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
The siblings had been brainwashed, abused and groomed while growing up in a cult led by Bernie Hoffman, an apocalyptic preacher and false prophet known to the world as Tony Alamo.
—
Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
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
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
Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
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
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 brainwashed
Verb
-
In a crew filled with people convinced of the superiority of their own methods, Cooper just wants to look at peacocks, call his grandma, and engage in some PG-13 flirting with fellow innocent oddball Kat.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
-
But many predicted that Candy Crush would not survive for 14 years, and Ingvar is convinced her teams will once again prove the doubters wrong.—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Green Dot founder Steve Barr stipulated that his group’s schools would be union represented — but that commitment satisfied only a small number of opponents.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
The juxtaposition of glossy and matte papers satisfied the papyrophile in Nilsson while adding a chewy subtext for viewers.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Alternative Rock The modern pop paradigm has been greatly influenced by Jack Antonoff, the producer du jour who cut his teeth in such bands as fun.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
-
Offer availability, placement, and display are determined by the third party and may be influenced by compensation and other factors.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
According to Oliveira, onlookers were amazed by the size of the shark as it was brought closer to shore.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
-
Although Edeme never claimed to have invented the technique, she has widely been credited as the person who brought the style back into the fore.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Up to 13,000 grapevine plants potentially infected by the bacteria have been sold across a total of 24 Northern and Central California counties, the CDFA said.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
Bernardo Silva, for instance, made one appearance for Benfica before being sold to Monaco.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The administration has persuaded several dozen countries to take in deportees who are not their own citizens, including African countries plagued by armed conflict, civil unrest and political turmoil, like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
They were persuaded by the details.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
That’s a cheap and easy analogy, but that’s what interested me to want to make this show.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
-
What interested you in the character initially?—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
By early 2002, Marklar had attracted more attention within Apple, and then-CEO Steve Jobs briefly flirted with the idea of allowing Mac OS X to run on Sony’s Vaio laptops.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
-
The seven congressional districts that take in all or parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties attracted a total of 48 candidates.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashed. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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