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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of washout
Jason Kirk, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In optimal conditions, most vehicles can make it, but high clearance is strongly recommended—especially in winter and after storms, when washouts, flooding, or snow accumulation are possible.
—Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Aimee Classen, The Conversation, 16 Feb. 2026
Now gone, the remnants of the arch will be left to wash out at sea, the municipality says.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for washout
Noun
Expectations going up after two straight Playoff washouts.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In optimal conditions, most vehicles can make it, but high clearance is strongly recommended—especially in winter and after storms, when washouts, flooding, or snow accumulation are possible.
—Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
However, when rain washes out the snowpack or a healthy snowpack doesn’t form, water in the soil can later freeze – as can mycorrhizal fungi.
—Aimee Classen, The Conversation, 16 Feb. 2026
Now gone, the remnants of the arch will be left to wash out at sea, the municipality says.
—Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for washout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washout
Noun
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Such lack of vision — or ample self-delusion — propelled Americans to disaster in Iraq, even with some competent advisers in the White House.—
Trudy Rubin,
Twin Cities,
6 Mar. 2026
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Leaving Polis off the guest list of a recent governors’ dinner at the White House was the latest slap in the face of many that include rescinded federal grants, a vetoed water bill, rejected disaster fund requests, and the loss of two federal agencies.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Degrading Iran’s war machine The larger munitions would have likely been used to penetrate underground facilities, destroy missile launch bunkers, and collapse tunnels or storage depots.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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This side-splitting comedy follows the same well-meaning troupe from The Play That Goes Wrong, whose latest attempt at staging Peter Pan quickly collapses into chaos.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Corals bleached and their population nose-dived, especially in the Keys, where water temperatures hit a Jacuzzi-like 101 degrees.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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Egg cartons made with recycled paper could be bleached or potentially contain contaminants, depending on the origins of the paper.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Police released an image captured from a surveillance video showing a person wearing dark clothes and a backpack, with their face covered.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Liu’s jacket—worn open over a white crewneck tee—featured a breast pocket bearing the house’s telltale LV monogram.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Before planting, wash containers with soap and water, then rinse with a solution of one part bleach to ten parts water to prevent disease.—
Holly McNamara,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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How to clean hummingbird feeders Ensure your feeders are thoroughly washed and rinsed before filling them with food.—
Jordan Green,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Democrats continued to criticize the White House for its failure to provide a clear and consistent rationale for launching the war.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
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The emergencies included a patient with a life-threatening diabetes complication called diabetic ketoacidosis and a patient going into respiratory failure.—
Kaan Ozcan,
NBC news,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Ducks improved to 8-0 in shootouts this season despite going just two for six against Montreal, with even Mason McTavish failing to score for the first time in six tries this season.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Doctors had little to offer Reid beyond steroids, which reduce inflammation but can cause bone fractures and diabetes, and a select few immunosuppressant drugs, which expose patients to infections and often fail to halt the disease’s progression.—
Jason Liebowitz,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Three days later, Litmus Test faded to third place in his first start of the year, the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.—
Jay Posner,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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What sympathy there may have been for a cornered, bruised Iranian regime among its neighbors has faded in the face of Tehran’s escalation.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washout. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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