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
Artificial men become soldiers and servants (a dead detective rebuilt as RoboCop; Bucky Barnes brainwashed to become the Winter Soldier; Anakin Skywalker resurrected as Darth Vader).
—
Kennedy French, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Why not live in Hank’s sick decision to brainwash his daughter into loving him?
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
Landfair claimed that she was brainwashed by Kelly.
—Katherine Lam, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
The lyrics went beyond Evers’ white-supremacist killer, indicting an entire system that brainwashed poor white Southerners into hatred.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
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
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
California high school senior Hadeel Hazameh believes she was brainwashed.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Kennedy French, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Why not live in Hank’s sick decision to brainwash his daughter into loving him?
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
Landfair claimed that she was brainwashed by Kelly.
—Katherine Lam, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
The lyrics went beyond Evers’ white-supremacist killer, indicting an entire system that brainwashed poor white Southerners into hatred.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
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
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
California high school senior Hadeel Hazameh believes she was brainwashed.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwash
Verb
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Yurtseven’s three straight double-doubles with RGV helped convince the Warriors to sign him over Santa Cruz Warriors center — and NBA veteran — Charles Bassey, who subsequently signed a 10-day deal with the Boston Celtics.—
Jon Becker,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
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It had been carried out explicitly to convince people like him.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The jury appears to have been persuaded by prosecutors’ argument that the defendants were members of an antifa cell connected to an ideology that calls for the overthrow of the government.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 13,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
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Bank charters also come with the kind of regulatory strictures that persuaded Robinhood that the costs of obtaining one outweigh the benefits.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Texas called Cal Higgins out of the bullpen, and the Western Kentucky transfer induced a run-scoring groundout and foul-out before issuing the team's second walk of the inning.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Taylor herself thinks Dakota calculated all of this to induce a breakdown and stop her from going on The Bachelorette.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jamal Murray fouled out with only five points early in overtime, bringing an early end to his worst game of the season.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The instructor brought Higgins to a boat and began CPR, Linhardt said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Irish unit, which Generali inherited through its purchase of Liberty Seguros, specializes in online operations and attracted interest from several buyers.—
Sonia Sirletti,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Your optimism attracts helpful allies.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Players from all over were enticed by the Raiders, who opened up the coffers to land key free agent additions, including linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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Milestone said the weak snowfall and comparatively mild winter may entice some climbers to try to ascend the peak early.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Beane is the progenitor of the Moneyball movement, the search for inefficiency in roster building that, today, has influenced every Major League Baseball front office.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Deep and smoky with impressive control and just a touch of Etta James rasp, Spiro’s is a voice not so much influenced by jazz legends like Winehouse or Nina Simone but rather a direct descendant.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The ongoing partnership continues to captivate fashion fans—while selling through, almost instantaneously.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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The president dropped by a retreat at his Doral golf club to sell the Iran war and pump up Republican lawmakers ahead of the midterm elections.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwash. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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