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
These young girls have been brainwashed by a political movement that exists to disenfranchise them.
—
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
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
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
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
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
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
-
Good luck convincing the Atlanta Braves that Freddie Freeman was in a home run drought.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
-
This removes the sap from the outer petals, convincing the bud to open quickly.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Araghchi questioned whether the latest military exchange was meant to pressure Iran into a peace deal or the result of someone persuading the president of the United States (POTUS) to extend the conflict.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
-
Historically, Angelenos didn’t need to be persuaded to ride the train.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Mejia got Trea Turner to fly out to right, struck out dangerous slugger Kyle Schwarber, and induced Bryce Harper to ground out to second baseman Edouard Julien to secure his second save of the season.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
9 May 2026
-
In the fifth inning, Alex Vesia relieved Sheehan and induced a two-on, two-out fly out from Matt Olson, who might be the National League’s most valuable player to date.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Just as some American immigrants brought their love of the land to the Midwest and Texas, my mother’s parents carried with them an intense feeling for books.—
Nicholas Dawidoff,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
Since then, three more animals have died, bringing the final count to 55.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead, try growing cucumbers with plants that attract pollinators and love plenty of moisture, like beans, peas, leafy greens, dill, nasturtiums, or borage.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 May 2026
-
How Buyers Are Responding — and Why Economically, Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing luxury market has attracted international attention.—
FMG Studios,
Footwear News,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
In December, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP, began holding meetings to inform the public of the possibility of building more nuclear reactors within the state, hoping to entice a town to host one.—
Krisztian Elcsics,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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Companies will test the boundaries Boyden speculated that offering different prices based on how much a customer uses a service, or advertising in particular ways to entice customers who are more likely to infringe, might constitute tailoring a service for piracy.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The juror said the comments influenced her to find Murdaugh guilty.—
Abigail Brooks,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
-
The hours-long proceeding focuses on whether jurors might have been wrongly influenced by Hill — and how Toal evaluated that question in 2024.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The experience is still going to sell to a lot of people who can afford it—I’m getting the college experience, the frats, the football.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Don’t miss the Botanical Garden Shop near the entrance, which sells plants, flowers, and seeds.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwash. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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