as in disaster
something that has failed
the fashion designer's last showing was a complete washout
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to collapse
to be unsuccessful
most of the participants in the tough training program washed out
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bleach
to make white or whiter by removing color
the bright lights of the TV studio washed out her facial features, making her look as white as a ghost
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3
as in to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
that last illness washed the child out completely
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of washout
Owen Clarke, Outside, 17 Dec. 2025
Participants then returned to their usual baseline diets for a four-week washout period before switching to the opposite diet for another 16 weeks.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The section is at risk during a major flooding event, so this will stop the road from being washed out.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for washout
Noun
Record-breaking rains have caused catastrophic washouts, mudslides, and emergency declarations across Washington and northwestern Montana.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 17 Dec. 2025
Participants then returned to their usual baseline diets for a four-week washout period before switching to the opposite diet for another 16 weeks.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
Verb
Let’s hope they get washed out in the semifinals next week.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The section is at risk during a major flooding event, so this will stop the road from being washed out.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for washout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washout
Noun
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One compelling example in the education space that Parker-Holder and Rivas described was allowing students to get a sense of what working in different professions might be like, such as assisting in disaster recovery.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
30 Jan. 2026
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The action also authorizes the use of disaster emergency funds and allows the OEM to mobilize state resources, make contracts and awards using emergency procurement procedures and encumber and expend funds as determined by the director of the OEM.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Klapper told Jam Press that the tower had partially collapsed under its own weight shortly before completion, preventing him from officially qualifying for the record.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Letting Thwaites collapse arguably violates the Antarctic Treaty System’s environmental-preservation clause, Minchew said.—
Christian Elliott,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Whether hair is bleached, color treated, or frequently heat styled, this formula aims to minimize breakage, reduce frizz, and smooth the appearance of split ends for a healthier-looking finish.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
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Schjerfbeck also liked the way Degas bleached his pastels to deaden their tone.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Adding onto the wear-and-tear element was that Monday’s game was a back-to-back, one caused by Saturday’s matchup being postponed to Sunday after a federal immigration agent shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday morning.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The suspect is described as a man about six feet tall, wearing a black hoodie and black pants.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Once the stain has faded, brush off the salt and rinse it out.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
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Drain the sink and refill it with cool water to rinse the jeans.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That last-minute development is reviving debate about the extent of state support for Vanke, one of the last major developers to have avoided an outright default after a broader property market slump sparked record debt failures in recent years.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
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Poetry is a testament to the failure of wolves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Previous attempts at a temporary truce between Russia and Ukraine have all failed to hold.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Close-range finishing The Bulls relied heavily on their 3-point shooting in Thursday’s loss as shots failed to fall inside the arc.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The designer honors his Azerbaijani heritage, working with artisans from across Azerbaijan and Georgia to create rich, unique textures, while helping to support rural communities and preserve fading artisanal skills.—
Amy O’Brien,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2026
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Other factors for the warmer spring include a fading La Niña, a weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean that can bring cool temperatures to the United States.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washout. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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