1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
washed-out blond hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
feeling washed-out after the endless primary season, the party's nominee needs a vacation more than anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful
most of the participants in the tough training program washed out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bleached
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in killed
to use up all the physical energy of
that last illness washed the child out completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rinsed
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
wash out your bathing suit in the sink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of washed-out
Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Images incorporated into the mayor’s video showed washed-out or collapsed roads, a car stuck in floodwaters and raging waterways.
—Sophia Tareen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Intense flash flooding in towns like Wrightwood and Phelan in recent weeks caused devastating mudslides and washed-out roads, forcing people to be rescued by helicopter.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
The magic lies in its warmth, which prevents the face from looking washed-out.
—María Diez, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2025
Images generally have washed-out colors and an overall dark tone.
—PC Magazine, 25 July 2025
Lindsay’s nails cause the color of the nail bed to look half white and half red or brown, whereas Terry’s nails cause the nail bed to look mostly white or washed-out, per Cleveland Clinic.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
This shade leans totally into nude territory without being washed-out.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 July 2024
The picture is bright, though some high-contrast shots of silhouetted objects show slightly muddy or washed-out shadow details; the contours of a lioness against a sunset are slightly indistinct, while trees against a stormy sky are a bit too light.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 15 June 2026
That's because the odor is washed out in the rinse cycle, leaving behind only the benefits of adding it to the wash.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 June 2026
During a hurricane, leaf litter blown or washed out of the canopy ended up in the complex network of roots below, providing a pulse of nutrients that enhanced the production of new roots and hastened mangrove recovery.
—John Kominoski, The Conversation, 10 June 2026
The library shots exhibit overexposure; the books on the shelves appear washed out and blown out, and are too bright.
—Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 2 June 2026
The United Nations said in 1989 if global warming wasn’t stopped by 2000, entire nations could be washed out by rising seas.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
Momentum is neither extended nor washed out, which is actually fine at the early stage of a breakout retest.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 26 May 2026
Rain washed out qualifying Saturday, and the gray, overcast sky served as a fitting background for the somber mood enveloping Charlotte Motor Speedway and its 1½-mile track.
—Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Starting lineup for Sunday’s Cup Series race Cup qualifying was washed out Saturday afternoon, and thus the starting lineup was set by the rule book.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2026
Adjective
Numerous roads washed-out, collapsing down into the ground.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Images incorporated into the mayor’s video showed washed-out or collapsed roads, a car stuck in floodwaters and raging waterways.
—Sophia Tareen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Intense flash flooding in towns like Wrightwood and Phelan in recent weeks caused devastating mudslides and washed-out roads, forcing people to be rescued by helicopter.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
The magic lies in its warmth, which prevents the face from looking washed-out.
—María Diez, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2025
Images generally have washed-out colors and an overall dark tone.
—PC Magazine, 25 July 2025
Lindsay’s nails cause the color of the nail bed to look half white and half red or brown, whereas Terry’s nails cause the nail bed to look mostly white or washed-out, per Cleveland Clinic.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
This shade leans totally into nude territory without being washed-out.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 July 2024
The picture is bright, though some high-contrast shots of silhouetted objects show slightly muddy or washed-out shadow details; the contours of a lioness against a sunset are slightly indistinct, while trees against a stormy sky are a bit too light.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
Verb
Roadbeds may be washed out by floodwaters.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 15 June 2026
That's because the odor is washed out in the rinse cycle, leaving behind only the benefits of adding it to the wash.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 June 2026
During a hurricane, leaf litter blown or washed out of the canopy ended up in the complex network of roots below, providing a pulse of nutrients that enhanced the production of new roots and hastened mangrove recovery.
—John Kominoski, The Conversation, 10 June 2026
The library shots exhibit overexposure; the books on the shelves appear washed out and blown out, and are too bright.
—Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 2 June 2026
The United Nations said in 1989 if global warming wasn’t stopped by 2000, entire nations could be washed out by rising seas.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
Momentum is neither extended nor washed out, which is actually fine at the early stage of a breakout retest.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 26 May 2026
Rain washed out qualifying Saturday, and the gray, overcast sky served as a fitting background for the somber mood enveloping Charlotte Motor Speedway and its 1½-mile track.
—Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Starting lineup for Sunday’s Cup Series race Cup qualifying was washed out Saturday afternoon, and thus the starting lineup was set by the rule book.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washed-out
Adjective
-
Police say that the suspect's vehicle has a faded convertible top, no rear window, chrome-and-red European-style taillights and chrome rims.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
Next to a limp rack of sleeveless tops stands a postapocalyptic forager-warrior mannequin in jeans, a faded plaid shirt, and a black baseball cap from the plus-size-women’s brand Torrid.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
-
So tired and anxious and stressed.—
Anna Spoerre,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Niv Shisler, 24, an aspiring rapper who works at Dorfman’s restaurant, moved to the town last November lured by cheap housing when rents collapsed during the war.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
-
The project had to be unplugged within months — before being widely deployed — when the company behind it collapsed.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
After the spinning and weaving, textiles had to be cleaned and bleached.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
15 June 2026
-
The movie features a teenage character who bleached his hair, leading Vin Diesel's character to believe something nefarious was afoot.—
Marina Watts,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Six people were on board the plane, including one person who was killed in the incident, police said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
-
Days before the five-year anniversary of the 2021 building collapse that killed 98 people in Surfside, the federal government has published findings that determined the structure of the Champlain Towers South condominium started failing about three weeks before the catastrophe.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
Dried beans need to be rinsed and soaked before cooking.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
16 June 2026
-
Avoid overloading the washer to ensure towels are thoroughly cleaned and rinsed.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Located on the northeast coast near Willikies, this peaceful area offers wide stretches of pale sand, clear shallow water, and easy access to some of Antigua’s most beautiful coastline.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
Too much sunlight, normally only a problem in areas with extremely hot climates, may cause plants to bleach out and look pale, which may be mistaken for yellowing.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
In real life, that often looks like lying down exhausted, scrolling and still being awake an hour later, glued to our screens.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
Cattle farmer Boutros Maroun said people in Ain Ebel are exhausted.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washed-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washed-out. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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