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
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
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
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
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
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
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
-
Fuqua is not convinced that Jackson did what he is accused of doing, despite the number of accusers (five) and the fact that Jackson publicly talked about sharing his bed with boys.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Cora considered sending Weissert back out for the seventh, but pitching coach Andrew Bailey convinced him to make a change.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What has followed, a decade plus of stunning hockey played by the most talented hockey player on earth, has satisfied all desires but the most important one.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Long after a clinical decision has set events in motion, a second system activates to verify whether the decision satisfied the rules.—
Holland Haynie,
STAT,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the time, Polis acknowledged the need for tighter regulations but said he was influenced to reject the bill after Uber threatened to leave the state if the bill passed.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But his style, admitted Dupré, has always been heavily influenced by Travis — which can be a challenge when trying to maintain his own identity as an artist, while also honoring Travis' legacy.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But that night the Red Sox bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, and Thursday brought a sense of deja vu.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Down 20, Murray brought the ball over halfcourt, looking for space.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The brand, then called Cosmetics To Go, sold its first bar shampoo in 1987 and patented the formula in 1988.—
Kara McGrath,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Investigators say the vehicles were then sent overseas, primarily to Africa, where they were sold on the black market for high profits.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The inexpensive studio space and the innovative community being formed by his gallery, Library Street Collective, persuaded him to stay.—
Julie Belcove,
Robb Report,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In the end, county officials were persuaded to act.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As to why the format interested him, Hawley pointed to a similarity with Fargo.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Cindy would give Ann gourmet popcorn or maybe a sweatshirt from her alma mater, while Ann would give Cindy a special book on a topic that interested her, or maybe an old batch of family recipes.—
Ross Channing Reed,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Next, our leading ladies must have attracted the dreamiest if often corrupt husbands, played by the likes of Hugh Grant, Kevin Bacon, Bobby Cannavale, Liev Schreiber, and Alexander Skarsgård.—
Libby Gelman-Waxner,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Gnats are attracted to succulents that are planted in soil that is too wet and doesn’t have proper drainage.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashed. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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