washed-out 1 of 2

adjective

ˈwȯsht-ˈau̇t How to pronounce washed-out (audio)
Definition of washed-outnext
1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color washed-out blond hair

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

washed out

2 of 2

verb

past tense of wash out
1
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful most of the participants in the tough training program washed out

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in killed
to use up all the physical energy of that last illness washed the child out completely

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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

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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 washed-out
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
Residents in metro Atlanta and across North Georgia are picking up the pieces following an intense overnight thunderstorm that brought severe flash flooding, washed out roadways, and left thousands without power. — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 29 July 2026 Torrential rains caused flash floods that swamped homes, washed out bridges and led to water rescues in West Virginia, authorities said. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 The final was postponed to Monday after heavy rain washed out Sunday’s play. — James Hansen, New York Times, 20 July 2026 Without a potent enough backlight, your screen can be washed out or even unusable when the sun is out. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026 Without it, Dike points out that the room can feel flat or washed out. — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 12 July 2026 Serious stargazing gets harder as even bright constellations seem washed out by lingering light. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 July 2026 Overnight treatments work best and should be washed out with shampoo the next day. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 If your boards look washed out, gray, or patchy compared to when they were first finished, the protective layer is wearing thin. — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washed-out
  1. faded
  2. tired
  3. collapsed
  4. bleached
  5. killed
  6. rinsed
  7. pale
  8. exhausted
Adjective
  • Today, Tskaltubo's grand architecture stands as a testament to its faded glory—the sweeping arcs, decorative motifs, and faded murals all reminiscent of its once poignant beauty.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026
  • Eric_Lynxweiler | Courtesy of Latinos in Heritage Conservation The Silver Platter, with its faded crimson awning along a stretch in Los Angeles’ Westlake District, doesn’t look like much from the outside.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of faded
Adjective
  • One way to discourage the habit would be to keep yourself from becoming overly tired.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 30 July 2026
  • Many of those creators can no longer command the same fees from brands, and more often than not their followers are tired of the same old content.
    — Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 30 July 2026
Definition of tired
Verb
  • By reproducing Campbell’s soup cans and Marilyn Monroe portraits at industrial scale, Warhol collapsed the distinction between commerce and culture, suggesting that mass production and repetition could become a form of value in itself.
    — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 21 July 2026
  • The country’s power grid collapsed three times this month, while water service, food production, transportation, garbage collection and medical services have been severely disrupted.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Definition of collapsed
Verb
  • Their typically bright coral feathers were white, as if they had been bleached.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • When Billie gets there, the stables have been washed down and bleached to be rid of Noah’s blood.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of bleached
Verb
  • At age 12, Collinson ran his first mile for Running 4 Heroes, a nonprofit that honors, through one-mile runs, first responders and K9s injured or killed in the line of duty, while also providing support through fundraising and community initiatives.
    — Elijah Megginson, AJC.com, 31 July 2026
  • Israel responded with an intense aerial and ground campaign in the Gaza Strip, where more than 73,000 people have been killed, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says.
    — Emma Nicholson, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of killed
Verb
  • By then, your toothbrush has been rinsed repeatedly in tap water and left to sit in a warm, humid bathroom—giving any lingering microbes plenty of time to multiply before the brush goes right back into your mouth.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 27 July 2026
  • All types of produce should be rinsed under running water, including those with skins or rinds that are not eaten.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of rinsed
Adjective
  • Her long white hair, normally collected in a bun, trailed down past her shoulders in smooth, pale waves.
    — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
  • This is a place to order something sparkly—maybe the Broadway 75, a pale pink French 75 riff—to sip at the circular bar, or ensconced in the velvet banquette seats.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of pale
Adjective
  • If the District Court upholds the denial, your application is considered exhausted.
    — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 21 July 2026
  • OpenAI moved ChatGPT Business agents to metered credits July 6, and Anthropic now bills agent workloads against credit pools that stop when exhausted.
    — TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of exhausted

Browse Nearby Words

washed one's hands of
washed-out
washed out
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Cite this Entry

“Washed-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washed-out. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of washed-out for Spanish Speakers

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