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
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
The lyrics went beyond Evers’ white-supremacist killer, indicting an entire system that brainwashed poor white Southerners into hatred.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 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
As a teen, she was sent to Evelyn’s facility and brainwashed, too.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 26 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
Kennedy French, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Landfair claimed that she was brainwashed by Kelly.
—Katherine Lam, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
The lyrics went beyond Evers’ white-supremacist killer, indicting an entire system that brainwashed poor white Southerners into hatred.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 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
As a teen, she was sent to Evelyn’s facility and brainwashed, too.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 26 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashed
Verb
-
Mom convinced her to continue playing.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Willick was not convinced by this explanation, noting that many graphic and upsetting stories had been shared from the bimah in the past two and a half years—stories about violence perpetrated by Hamas.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The president satisfied his own ego, displaying no patience, as other bloodthirsty warlords throughout history.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Miami also declined to offer Jovic, though there’s no indication that his inclusion would have satisfied Phoenix.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Health is influenced not only by clinical care but also by lifestyle choices, daily movement and meaningful relationships—including those with our pets.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
His background at Brider and high-end Boulder restaurant Oak at Fourteenth influenced the offerings.—
Max Scheinblum,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Liman allowed three of the 13 legal claims — including breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation — Lively brought against her director and costar Baldoni to proceed to trial.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Separately, the county board of supervisors has hired outside legal counsel to guide them on how to respond to allegations that the sheriff perjured himself during a deposition in a First Amendment lawsuit brought against him by one of his own deputies.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But records show a bank sold the home to Yu last year.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
That’s beachfront real estate sold for thousands of dollars each game.—
Mac Engel
April 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The jury found that the trooper and another radioed a false location to headquarters before entering the apartment, and one of them decided to plant a gun at the scene afterward before his partner persuaded him against it.—
Lawrence Mower,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The jury found that the trooper and another radioed a false location to headquarters before entering the apartment, and one of them decided to plant a gun at the scene afterward before his partner persuaded him against it.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That’s what interested us as well.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
These stories are not only fun to read, but also provide valuable information about ideas that interested early Christians.—
Christy Cobb,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Brandt said she was especially attracted to Lankenau because of its strong ties to the community.—
Stephanie Stahl,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In an era of near continuous cruelty by the administration, the imprisonment of the boy and his father attracted massive media and political attention and eventually saw both released on February 1.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashed. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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