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
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
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
Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashed
Verb
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Halbach's family members told PEOPLE that they are convinced of Avery's guilt, however.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Brittany Rush’s mom and sister, both health care workers, convinced her to get health insurance.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After those negotiations in Lisbon, Berrada headed back to Manchester satisfied an agreement had been verbally struck — a story The Athletic broke via sources in Portugal, with the United CEO learning mid-flight that the news was out.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
-
None have adequately satisfied the Royals’ needs.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Black voters were likely influenced by the economy as well, according to Ashley Konig, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University.—
Emily Chang,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
-
In a city heavily influenced by Buddhism and Taoism, living in apartments associated with ghastly deaths often stokes fear of bad fortune.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Philippines is one of Asia’s most flood-prone countries but this year it has also been mired in a massive corruption scandal involving flood control projects that have brought thousands of protesters out onto the streets.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Johnston wrote that the Bright Futures Fund was brought into the diocesan accounting system and was under the regular oversight of its finance office.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Gabbiadini scored five times in 15 league games, but was sold that same season to Derby County at a loss.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Laster allegedly sold this information to two betters for about $100,000.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Andrew had what was viewed as a cast-iron lease, but was persuaded to abandon it.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The impact of the project on the club’s balance sheet has been pronounced, so much so that Laporta persuaded socios to temporarily suspend article 67 of the club’s statutes, which limits the level of debt Barcelona can carry.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Tommaso di Lampedusa’s novel, which looks at the unification of Italy from the perspective of a 20th-century writer, had a modernity that interested me.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Debuting at the Japan Mobility Show earlier this week, the new concept attracted a lot of attention for being unlike anything Toyota has done before.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The film has already attracted buyers in several territories, including Poland (New Horizons), Greece (Tanweer), Bulgaria (Pro Films), Mongolia (Filmbridge) and the former Yugoslavia (Karantanija Cinemas).—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashed. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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