BRAINWASHED Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

brainwashed

verb

past tense of brainwash

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of brainwashed How many people were brainwashed into showing up for a riot and then imprisoned for their actions over an idea that was never really theirs? — Will Cady, SPIN, 30 July 2026 People who vote for MAGA Republicans are mentally challenged and brainwashed. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026 Society has brainwashed us for decades into bottling our emotions, saying less, not rocking the boat, and just carrying so much on our shoulders. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashed

Verb

Newcastle had depleted full-back resources and Jaissle was convinced the 24-year-old’s athleticism was ideal.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
But before her death, Christine Moore wasn’t convinced a thorough enough job had been done.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of convinced

Verb

The court sent unresolved questions about whether the warrant in that case satisfied constitutional requirements back to a lower court.

— Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
The court did not decide whether the particular geofence warrant ultimately satisfied the Fourth Amendment's probable cause and particularity requirements.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of satisfied

Verb

Young reporters like Steinem were allowed to write stories only about women's topics, such as recipes and clothes; writing about issues that actually influenced women's lives was discouraged.

— Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Ruth Steinem had mental health problems, something Steinem has said deeply influenced her.

— Elizabeth Chuck, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of influenced

Verb

The 2026 midterms have brought a number of generational challenges like the one Moulton is waging against Markey, with younger Democrats taking on — and in some cases unseating — longtime incumbents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Wemlinger says the cyclical nature of design trends has brought these colors back, but the nostalgia factor is changing how they’re used.

— Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of brought

Verb

Panthers coach Dave Canales said he was sold on Okereke, who has played in all 17 NFL games in four of his past five seasons and has had 130-plus tackles four different times in his career.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026
Isaacson’s 2023 book left a lot of reviewers cold with its lack of criticism but still sold a gazillion copies.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of sold

Verb

But what really interested us with this movie was trying to understand the humanity and searching for and exploring the love and the loyalty to characters to have a dialogue with an audience and not do it for the sake of ego or shock.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026
Camerlenghi says Gradara Castle has interested him since his childhood.

— Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026

Definition of interested

Verb

Grueling weeks of testimony In a trial that stretched over five weeks, included more than 80 witnesses and attracted international attention to the issue of postpartum mental health, jurors heard competing theories about Clancy's mental condition.

— Carmel Wroth, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
The case has attracted attention because Wisconsin courts have not fully resolved whether the public may walk along Great Lakes beaches below the ordinary high-water mark.

— Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of attracted

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“Brainwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashed. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of brainwashed

verb

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