wash 1 of 2

verb

ˈwȯsh How to pronounce wash (audio)
Definition of washnext
1
as in to bathe
to flow along or against crystal-clear waters gently wash the island's unspoiled beaches

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2
as in to fly
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval the employee's story about missing the bus didn't wash with her manager

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3
as in to splash
to flow in a broken irregular stream soapy water washing down the drain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to wet
to make wet rain washed the countryside for days on end

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to rinse
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse washed the baby's hair

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6
as in to stir
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly she absentmindedly washed her tea by tipping her cup, until the honey was at last mixed in

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wash

2 of 2

noun

as in marsh
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water an invasive species threatening the plants native to the region's washes

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Example Sentences

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 wash
Verb
Store Fresh Produce and Salads in Jars Speaking of prepping produce, Costello always makes sure to wash and cut up fresh fruit and veggies for meals and snacking. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Aug. 2026 Wash Separately In Warm Water Towels should be washed separately from other clothing and always in warm water. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
This tinted version gives lips a sheer wash of color with a cooling feel and moisturizing finish thanks to nourishing apricot and raspberry seed oils. — Grace Scollo, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026 Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will install Islamic foot wash stations inside bathrooms at the facility, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wash
  1. bathe
  2. fly
  3. splash
  4. wet
  5. rinse
  6. stir
  7. marsh
  8. work
Verb
  • As sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the lunar surface, blue light is scattered away while red wavelengths continue onward, bathing the moon in pinkish, copper and crimson tones.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Contaminants such as benzene, which can cause cancer, have been detected in plumbing and water systems after fires at concentrations capable of causing illness through drinking, bathing or showering.
    — Andrew J. Whelton, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of bathe
Verb
  • So a new grant, under the early-stage NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, aims to create small, flying vehicles that could explore those caves.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • When not searching for glass floats, enjoy other pastimes like tide pooling, beachcombing, and kite flying (home to two kite festivals, Lincoln City calls itself the Kite Capital of the World).
    — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • Antonio Banderas' house—with the dune in the background, where Tony gets splashed with water every morning—was only a mile from my house.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The spacecraft splashed down in the Indian Ocean intact after flying halfway around the world from SpaceX’s launch base in South Texas.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of splash
Verb
  • Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • Instead, use regular water to rinse any leftover products away before trying the next one.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The roller rotates constantly and gets rinsed with clean water, so the part touching the car always stays clean.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of rinse
Verb
  • Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is tender, 7 to 9 minutes.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2026
  • High inflation and a currency crash triggered widespread protests that led to a brutal crackdown in January, and some officials in Tehran are concerned today’s economic woes could stir more unrest.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • North American river otters live in rivers, lakes, streams, marshes and on seacoasts, according to the conservation group River Otter Ecology Project.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The land features rich biological diversity such as marshes, mudflats and riparian and coastal sage scrub, including sensitive, threatened or endangered species such as the California gnatcatcher and the fairy shrimp.
    — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of marsh
Verb
  • After working around the clock for the better part of a week toward an interim bilateral trade deal, trade officials from the United States and Canada may have reached a consensus that will stave off a fresh round of punishing tariffs.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In a country where current and former governors command massive grassroots support and are often accused of working with local electoral officials to manipulate election results, analysts say the defections could work in Tinubu’s favor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of work

Phrases Containing wash

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was friends with
wash
washed
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Cite this Entry

“Wash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wash. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wash

Nglish: Translation of wash for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wash

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