as in convinced
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 brainwashed
As a teen, she was sent to Evelyn’s facility and brainwashed, too.
—
Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Maybe Maurice wasn’t too far off on his hunch that the teens were being brainwashed into spy material.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 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
Harry and William had a 72-hour argument via text in which William accused Harry of being brainwashed by therapy and Harry appealed unsuccessfully for William to join him for a session.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
How could someone as young as Sisson already be brainwashed by big-money interests?
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Justine and Archer eventually overpower and kill the pair, all while Alex is trying to hide from his parents, who are brainwashed into trying to kill him.
—William Earl, Variety, 9 Aug. 2025
Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Maybe Maurice wasn’t too far off on his hunch that the teens were being brainwashed into spy material.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 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
Harry and William had a 72-hour argument via text in which William accused Harry of being brainwashed by therapy and Harry appealed unsuccessfully for William to join him for a session.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
How could someone as young as Sisson already be brainwashed by big-money interests?
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Justine and Archer eventually overpower and kill the pair, all while Alex is trying to hide from his parents, who are brainwashed into trying to kill him.
—William Earl, Variety, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashed
Verb
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The concerted propaganda effort lasted for over a year, but the people were not convinced.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
-
But many physicists are not convinced by this cut-and-dried distinction.—
Dipangkar Dutta,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Stein provided one that satisfied her ambitions and perhaps mitigated a sense of mediocrity.—
Judith Thurman,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Certainly, the endless stream of player feedback allowed Supergiant to hone in on razor-sharp gameplay that satisfied existing players.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Gen Zers' social media- and internet-influenced subculture is changing language faster than their elders can keep up.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
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Songs were influenced by improvisational and bebop jazz, as well as gospel.—
Jenny Adams,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The visit brought tens of thousands of visitors to the Royal Oak basilica.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The role ultimately brought Judge, Altschuler and Krinsky to Silicon Valley and the culture of technologists.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the interim, Ludwinski sold Sister Pie goods at Eastern Market on specific dates, took special orders and offered limited items with occasional openings.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The full-service pharmacy first opened in 1962 and became well-known for its cult-favorite ice cream brand, Thrifty, which has since been sold due to the store’s bankruptcy.—
Auzinea Bacon,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Engels persuaded the skeptical Marx that the working class was history’s true engine.—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Bivins would end up betraying Villar when FBI agents persuaded him to call the roofer on July 15, 2024, on their burner cellphones.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Since his death more than two hundred years ago, Christophe’s tragic story has interested a broad array of playwrights, artists, novelists, and filmmakers across the world.—
Marlene L. Daut
September 22,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
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The travelers that interested her were not those seeking plain or ordinary pleasures but those chasing a profound personal cataclysm.—
Nicole Flattery,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The miniseries attracted 62 million pairs of eyes in its first 28 days, dominating the streaming site as a top show across dozens of countries.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Polanski has attracted a number of Labour activists from the Corbyn era, such as the best-selling Marxist author Grace Blakeley and the former Corbyn spokesperson Matt Zarb-Cousin.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashed. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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