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

For another, the pandemic-era shift to remote work almost certainly convinced companies that some positions needn’t be filled at all.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
Fariala was convinced that the young man was the right person to play the lead role.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of convinced

Verb

Today, Houston is at the center of a vibrant barbecue scene that offers those traditional styles alongside new ones influenced by Asian and Tex-Mex flavors.

— Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 13 Aug. 2026
The Deramas blueprint undeniably influenced other comedy directors such as Chris Martinez and Jun Robles Lana.

— Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of influenced

Verb

The nature of Robert Carradine’s death is the subject of a new lawsuit brought against the University of California, Los Angeles by the actor’s family.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
In that time, Sezalory had three kids, lost a brother and navigated her mother’s cancer diagnosis, all of which brought a new perspective.

— Hilary Milnes, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of brought

Verb

The Dania Beach headquarters campus that once served as the nerve center of now-defunct Spirit Airlines has been sold to a Boston hedge fund that served as the stalking horse bidder in a bankruptcy court auction.

— David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Those tickets were sold at a 7-Eleven in Dedham and at Cumberland Farms stores in Attleboro and Granby.

— Mike Toole, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of sold

Verb

Paramount was among the companies that persuaded the state to make film credits refundable starting last year.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
For one, primary elections often have many more undecided voters, and people pay much less attention to the races — meaning those who have not made up their minds headed into election day can be easily persuaded.

— Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of persuaded

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

What followed was an investigation that stretched across nearly nine years and eventually attracted national attention through television programs, podcasts and online discussions.

— Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
The Hilton ad was produced by filmmaker Charles Curran — the same creator who released the Pratt ads, which attracted widespread attention for the Los Angeles mayoral candidate before he was eliminated in the June primary.

— Grace Hase, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of attracted

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“Brainwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashed. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of brainwashed

verb

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