Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

wash

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of wash

spongy land saturated or partially covered with water
  • an invasive species threatening the plants native to the region's washes
Synonyms of wash

bog, fen, marsh, marshland, mire, moor, morass, muskeg, slough (also slew), swamp, swampland, wetland
Words Related to wash

swale

quagmire

wash

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of wash

1 to flow along or against
  • Crystal-clear waters gently wash the island's unspoiled beaches.
Synonyms of wash

bathe, lap, lave, lip, splash
Words Related to wash

bubble, gurgle, plash, ripple, slosh
2 to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
  • The employee's story about missing the bus didn't wash with her manager.
Synonyms of wash

fly, hold up, pass, stand up
Words Related to wash

get through, go down, go over, go through, play, take, work
Phrases Synonymous with wash

hold water, pass muster
3 to flow in a broken irregular stream
  • soapy water washing down the drain
Synonyms of wash

bubble, dribble, gurgle, lap, plash, ripple, splash, trickle
Words Related to wash

eddy, purl, swirl

swash, swish, swoosh, whish

drip, drop

gush, jet, rush, spew, spout, spurt, squirt
Near Antonyms of wash

run
Antonyms of wash

pour, roll, stream
4 to make wet
  • Rain washed the countryside for days on end.
Synonyms of wash

bathe, bedraggle, douse (also dowse), drench, drown, soak, sop, souse, water, water-soak, waterlog, wet, wet down
Words Related to wash

asperse, bedew, damp, dampen, drizzle, humidify, hydrate, mist, moisten, moisturize, shower, sprinkle

deluge, flood, hose (down), inundate, overflow

submerge, swamp

splash

impregnate, saturate, steep

flush, irrigate, lave, rinse, slosh, sluice

dip, duck, dunk

rehydrate, rewash, rewet
Near Antonyms of wash

dewater, evaporate, freeze-dry

drip-dry, wring

dehumidify
Antonyms of wash

dehydrate, desiccate, dry, parch, scorch, sear
5 to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
  • washed the baby's hair
Synonyms of wash

flush, irrigate, rinse, sluice, wash out
Words Related to wash

deluge, engulf, flood, inundate, swamp

flow, gush, rush, stream

drench, saturate, soak

douse (also dowse), slosh, splash
6 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.
Synonyms of wash

agitate, churn, stir, swirl, whirl
Words Related to wash

beat, paddle, whip, whisk

reel, shake, wheel

Learn More about wash

  1. See words that rhyme with wash Dictionary: Definition of wash Medical Dictionary: Definition of wash Spanish Central: Translation of wash Nglish: Translation of wash for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wash for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wash

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up wash? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games