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
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
Landfair claimed that she was brainwashed by Kelly.
—Katherine Lam, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
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
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
Landfair claimed that she was brainwashed by Kelly.
—Katherine Lam, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
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
-
However, Shelby Green, a research and communications manager covering the Southeast region for the Energy and Policy Institute, isn't convinced.—
Stephan Bisaha,
NPR,
18 May 2026
-
The caller convinced Heitin that his retirement accounts were under attack and walked him through transferring the money out himself.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Personals like this one may feel like a relic—Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji, New York’s mayor and his wife, met on Hinge, after all—but love and lust have been satisfied by column inches since the 1800s.—
Zara Meerza,
Air Mail,
2 May 2026
-
State court records show Blueprint satisfied the judgment by last April.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These are generally less influenced by the emotional swings of the 24-hour news cycle and anchored in real-world value.—
Chris Kelly,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Guadalajara was influenced by Kinky, Sussie 4, Belanova.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Lei Ying Lee, Xia Brookside rivalry heats up Lei Ying Lee brought the TNA Knockouts Championship back home last week with a win over Arianna Grace.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
During my lifetime there have been 55 years in which my country has engaged in prolonged and endless conflicts or wars, few of which have brought a decisive victory.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The more successful Bellator was sold to the Professional Fighters League, and the UFC bought Strikeforce.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
In Adidas’ final earnings call for fiscal 2025, chief executive officer Bjørn Gulden announced the Evo SL was approaching 10 million pairs sold.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
But authorities weren't persuaded.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
-
Neither leader elaborated on what persuaded them about the possibility of peace in Europe’s longest conflict since World War II.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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To my surprise, that interested him—most men wouldn’t have wanted to hear about it.—
Joyce Johnson,
New Yorker,
23 May 2026
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Around the same time, Barwick and his then-student, Peter Haine, independently came up with a slightly different definition in order to answer a particular question in category theory that interested them.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Cherry Creek has a lot going for it, including one of the country’s strongest office markets, robust indoor and outdoor retail districts, and a live-work-play balance that has attracted nationwide attention and drawn billions of dollars in investment.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
-
Long influential in both Hollywood and Democratic political fundraising circles, the Sabans’ support highlights the unusually broad coalition Pratt has attracted as his outsider campaign gains traction among wealthy donors frustrated with the city’s leadership and response to ongoing crises.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashed. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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