as in lobbying
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as in convincing
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brainwashing
James Unnever, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
If brainwashing doesn’t work, defendants can hardly claim it as a defense.
—Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brainwashing
Noun
If these universities are truly the factories of leftist brainwashing that conservatives claim, shouldn’t these men have emerged as progressive ideologues themselves?
—James Unnever, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
If brainwashing doesn’t work, defendants can hardly claim it as a defense.
—Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
Maurice is convinced that Tall Pines is brainwashing teens and then sending them to who-knows-where to work as spies.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brainwashing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashing
Noun
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Sarepta Therapeutics, the drug’s manufacturer, stood to lose millions of dollars; to Loomer’s critics, the timing and intensity of her campaign against Prasad seemed like a form of lobbying.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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Once sanctioned for terrorism by the West, the leader now appears to be on a global diplomatic charm offensive, bolstered by aggressive lobbying from regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Turkey, US allies eager to fill a power and economic vacuum left by Iran and Russia.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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An attack by civilians on the army headquarters is the sort of cardinal sin the military is unlikely to forgive, regardless of clever lawyers and convincing legal arguments.—
Rafia Zakaria,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Arizona Cardinals have finally snapped their five-game losing streak, doing so in convincing fashion with a 27-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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My message was to stand up against this type of behavior and the danger of what influencing can mean on social media.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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Negotiation and influencing skills are critical capabilities that the candidates can highlight as a testament to their ability to navigate the organizational dynamics, maneuver tricky situations and secure buy-in from detractors, if any.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And with the holiday travel rush fast approaching, travel delays are even more anxiety-inducing than ever.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
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Scientists have recorded the whales inducing what’s known as a state of tonic immobility, essentially paralyzing the shark.—
Outside,
Outside,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The goddess planet knows the art of seduction, but when transiting Scorpio, her sweetness is equally seductive and mysterious.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Taking inspiration from the Greek enchantress Circe, the fragrance embodies her mythical characteristics of seduction and power, alongside rebellion and creation.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The proposal calls for expanding the project’s scope to include 90 more acute care beds, bringing the hospital’s total to 136 beds.—
Chase Jordan
November 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Nov. 2025
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Just two ways of bringing playful drama to a space through color, the brightness is reminiscent of the joy of holidays and puts a smile on everyone’s face.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The poppy became such a recognizable symbol for remembrance observances that veterans’ groups started selling paper replicas of the flowers to raise money for veterans’ causes.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
12 Nov. 2025
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Trump has partly addressed the shortfall by selling NATO weapons for transfer to Ukraine (more air-defense weapons are still needed, though).—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This recipe is the ultimate creamy and satisfying comfort food.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
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One beneficiary may be the Catalan-language itself, also satisfying a yearning for authenticity, which is proving a major lure of both films and series.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashing. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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