as in to convince
to cause (someone) to think or believe something by using methods that make a person unable to think normally
Terrorists brainwashed the prisoners. Does advertising brainwash children?
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Recent Examples of brainwash
In very One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fashion, good ol’ American capitalists were brainwashed into embracing Red communism.
—
Jack King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
This was when Allison was still very deep in NXIVM, very much brainwashed.
—Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2025
She was completely brainwashed by Raniere, and became part of a harem of women who serviced his every need.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Her home, District 12, has been destroyed and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) has been brainwashed by President Snow.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2025
There, Evelyn uses psychedelic drugs and psychological manipulation to brainwash them into joining the local community, which is, in fact, just a commune of Evelyn’s cultists.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
But Emma’s frustrated by how brainwashed Sam is.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
California high school senior Hadeel Hazameh believes she was brainwashed.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
They’re being brainwashed in school.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Jack King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
This was when Allison was still very deep in NXIVM, very much brainwashed.
—Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2025
She was completely brainwashed by Raniere, and became part of a harem of women who serviced his every need.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Her home, District 12, has been destroyed and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) has been brainwashed by President Snow.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2025
There, Evelyn uses psychedelic drugs and psychological manipulation to brainwash them into joining the local community, which is, in fact, just a commune of Evelyn’s cultists.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
But Emma’s frustrated by how brainwashed Sam is.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
California high school senior Hadeel Hazameh believes she was brainwashed.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
They’re being brainwashed in school.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwash
Verb
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The action is a cost-cutting measure, many fans are convinced.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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With Mikkel Damsgaard struggling for consistency and fitness, and record signing Dango Ouattara yet to convince following a summer move from Bournemouth, this is an area that could benefit from strengthening.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Despite the court’s ruling, last week the Education Department again tried to persuade the court to extend the deadline for post-class applicants by a year and a half.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The worst offender was an Ocean Beach property owner who was able to persuade family members, friends and acquaintances to put their names on more than 100 license applications for his huge portfolio of vacation rentals.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While the limitations of technology at the time naturally prevent the film from delivering the dread-inducing jump scares that modern audiences may crave, the atmosphere of Nosferatu is enough to get under your skin.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
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Personally, the loom of Sunday’s one-year anniversary has induced flashbacks and sporadic PTSD.—
Brad Townsend,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The city of Dallas alone has dozens of secondhand stores spanning consignment and furniture, and the industry's rapid industry has brought new opportunities, and often more foot traffic.—
Mari Sato The Dallas Morning News,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
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Atlanta is weighing whether to allow open alcohol containers in South Downtown in hopes of bringing more foot traffic to the neighborhood — especially during the FIFA World Cup games this summer.—
Riley Bunch,
AJC.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The designers’ responsibility to every book is to attract the right consumer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
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Japan is considered one of Asia’s top snow sports destinations due to its powder snow, which attracts a large number of foreign tourists each winter.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Red Hill is creating smaller suites and sprucing up the interior to entice new leases.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Feb. 2026
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Illinois is offering discounts, including $5 tickets, $1 wings and $7 domestic beers, to try to entice fans.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Two recent novels go behind the walls of anchorite and lunatic cells in different centuries and for different purposes, yet wind up demonstrating how women forced by circumstance behind walls influence the lives of others into the future.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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Users will not see ads or sponsored links near their conversations, and the chatbot's answers will not be influenced by third-party product placements.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The bill would also require businesses that sell delivery goods, such as grocery delivery providers or DoorDash, to list a comparison of the delivery price versus the regular price if the goods were to be bought in-person at the store.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
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Greg Ketter has spent nearly five decades selling comic books and science fiction novels at DreamHaven Books and Comics in Minneapolis.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwash. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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