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
-
After tumbling from a 50-foot height, Dan Aykroyd walked away convinced that a higher power had caught him.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
But Weber was always convinced that what his apparatuses were seeing was a real signal.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Jaramillo’s father was a veteran police officer who influenced him greatly.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Traffic congestion, public transit’s effect on neighborhoods and notable endorsements likely influenced voters most, local leaders and political experts say.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 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
-
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
-
The injured man told them that a female friend had taken his truck and sold it to a man at a game room near East Berry Street and South Riverside Drive, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Formed in 1921, the body first sold poppies on November 11 of that year.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Running Point actress was spotted shopping for holiday presents last December with a hands-free bag strapped across her body, and just one 12-second TikTok clip persuaded us to dole out some change on a purse that’s just like hers.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Black Cincinnatians persuaded the city to grant them 30 extra days.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The Atlanta hip hop duo also attracted an all-star group of musicians to the stage to perform their tribute.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Nov. 2025
-
High demand for the offering, which attracted buy and sell orders of $13 billion, reflects confidence in the policy measures taken in the last two years by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to revive one of Africa’s largest economies, the country’s debt office said.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashed. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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