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
Bistline further claimed that Bateman brainwashed her and initially convinced her to lie to authorities during her first interview with authorities in 2023.
—
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
What, are you being brainwashed by communists?
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
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
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
California high school senior Hadeel Hazameh believes she was brainwashed.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
What, are you being brainwashed by communists?
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
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
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
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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The move came after Black Democrats aligned with white Republican legislators to convince a federal court to create three congressional districts to elect the state’s first Black member of Congress since 1876.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
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Yet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to convince Trump that a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran was the only way to deal with the regime and its nuclear program.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Sessions testified as a defense witness on Monday that Rivera enlisted him in 2017 to persuade Maduro to step down and hold democratic elections in Venezuela.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
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While the Scandinavian interior might persuade you to spend the weekend lounging on the sheepskin rug or admiring the view from the wrap-around windows, the true perks exist beyond the property’s four walls.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The 29-year-old left-hander induced a double-play grounder from Jerar Encarnacion to end the threat.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
-
With Philadelphia applying pressure, Winn shattered Trea Turner’s bat to induce a 5-4-3 double play, recording the first two outs of the inning.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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As the Moon enters Sagittarius, your 4th House of Home becomes more active, bringing attention to your environment and emotional base.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
Banda scored again in the 39th minute to bring her league-leading total to seven goals.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Verb
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After Anthropic’s success in attracting business users, OpenAI is beefing up its Codex coding agent and other work tools.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The workshop will focus on fusion energy, an emerging technology that has attracted growing national and international interest because of its potential to provide safe, carbon-free electricity.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
His frame and traits are enticing.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Office renovations and conversions in Charlotte Post-COVID, office towers have to either entice people to come back to the cubicle or change uses.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The departure of the United Arab Emirates will deliver a blow to the cartel that could jeopardize its ability to influence the global oil market.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
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Lengthy prison sentences imposed years after the crime may not influence other individuals making split-second decisions in volatile situations.—
Andrew S. Boutros,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tickets for this year’s Met Gala are reportedly selling at $100,000 each, with some tables starting at $350,000.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
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Abbott thanked the children who sold his newspaper on street corners by throwing a parade in their honor.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwash. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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