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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Recent Examples of brainwashing
Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
In the aftermath, Rogers frees his teammates from prison while Barnes undergoes cryogenic stasis in Wakanda until his brainwashing can be cured.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
Yet, going by the best ethnographic and social-science research, his fear of brainwashing was overblown.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
His passing comes nine weeks after the death of Days’ Drake Hogestyn, who played John Black, the character who was at first believed to be Roman with brainwashing and plastic surgery.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brainwashing
Verb
The tests were believed to be part of a super-secret experimentation program, Project MKUltra, which ran from 1953 to 1973 (when the program’s records were destroyed) to identify drugs that could weaken individuals and force confessions through brainwashing and psychological torture.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
In the aftermath, Rogers frees his teammates from prison while Barnes undergoes cryogenic stasis in Wakanda until his brainwashing can be cured.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
Yet, going by the best ethnographic and social-science research, his fear of brainwashing was overblown.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
His passing comes nine weeks after the death of Days’ Drake Hogestyn, who played John Black, the character who was at first believed to be Roman with brainwashing and plastic surgery.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brainwashing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashing
Verb
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Rivers insisted Monday that there are different ways of convincing a team its record is not reflective of its abilities.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Dec. 2024
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In their calculation, their chances of reversing vaccine injury with unsupported, experimental treatments are better than convincing policy makers to care for disabled people.—
Catherine Tan,
TIME,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In the face of tragedy, Dess’s narrator memorably dramatizes the anxiety-inducing exigencies of the creative arts, and the need of artists to remain focussed on their craft.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
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Turn your bedroom into a snooze-inducing sanctuary.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Like so many of the film’s details, this seemingly innocent game indicates that the young women realize there’s an element of seduction at play, with some more aware than others of the qualities (besides singing talent) that Mácha is looking for.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
7 July 2025
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The camera, a fly, roves, ending up in corners, lodging itself amid scenes of card-playing, seductions, wisecracking, and listlessness.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Real intimacy lies in bringing your beautifully flawed self into the experience.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
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Adam Digby is the Juventus correspondent for Forbes and is Serie A writer, bringing you the biggest and best stories that Italian football has to offer.—
Adam Digby,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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On a recent morning, around 100 citizens lined up in front of a government truck in Dhaka that was selling oil, rice and vegetables at subsidized rates.—
Saif Hasnat Atul Loke,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
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Bottom line For home sellers, 2025 is looking good with many homes commanding higher prices and selling quickly.—
Brendel Hightower,
Detroit Free Press,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The successful outcome for Perpetua Resources is especially impressive given the complex nature of the federal, state, and local permitting process, as well as the work involved in satisfying the concerns of local communities and the Nez Perz Tribe.—
David Blackmon,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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Employees who cultivate relationships at work have a more fun and satisfying experience.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The agency has sued companies for persuading veterans to sell their pension and disability payments, for charging military families more than thirty-six per cent interest on pawn loans, and for misleading servicemembers to take costly cash-out refinance loans on their homes.—
E. Tammy Kim,
The New Yorker,
18 Mar. 2025
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The Bears don’t appear to be having much trouble persuading offensive players to come to Chicago after hiring Johnson, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Their style of play was attracting fans and that brought profits, even while tenants at City.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
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His town hall in particular went viral as House Republicans returned home for a weeklong break, attracting millions of views on a video CNN posted to TikTok alone.—
Lauren Green,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashing. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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