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
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
That addition is particularly important considering users have complained in Samsung's user forums and on Reddit about the current vivid setting appearing too washed-out.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Too cool and you can look washed out.
—Bianca London, Glamour, 24 Mar. 2026
Economists generally have calculated that whatever economic growth could be ascribed to the change would be washed out by the revenue loss from inflation-indexing only new purchases, and utterly swamped by the cost of indexing all holdings, past and future.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Blizzards buried parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota while torrential rains flooded homes and washed out roads in Hawaii.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
That year included the deadly Memorial Day flooding in Central Texas and the October flooding that washed out Austin’s Onion Creek neighborhood.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
Rain impacted multiple Australian GPs in Adelaide, and the 1991 edition was one of the shortest F1 races in history, lasting just a touch over 24 minutes before getting washed out.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
On the smallest scales, structure gets washed out, while on larger scales, structure takes a long time to form, as larger scales plus the finite speed of gravity translate into longer timescales for collapse.
—Big Think, 3 Mar. 2026
Because of a bright waning gibbous moon on that night, many fainter meteors will be washed out, particularly in the northern latitudes.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
That addition is particularly important considering users have complained in Samsung's user forums and on Reddit about the current vivid setting appearing too washed-out.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Verb
Floodwaters washed out homes, damaged roads, submerged vehicles and threatened a major dam in northern Oahu over the weekend.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Too cool and you can look washed out.
—Bianca London, Glamour, 24 Mar. 2026
Economists generally have calculated that whatever economic growth could be ascribed to the change would be washed out by the revenue loss from inflation-indexing only new purchases, and utterly swamped by the cost of indexing all holdings, past and future.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Blizzards buried parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota while torrential rains flooded homes and washed out roads in Hawaii.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
That year included the deadly Memorial Day flooding in Central Texas and the October flooding that washed out Austin’s Onion Creek neighborhood.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
Rain impacted multiple Australian GPs in Adelaide, and the 1991 edition was one of the shortest F1 races in history, lasting just a touch over 24 minutes before getting washed out.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
On the smallest scales, structure gets washed out, while on larger scales, structure takes a long time to form, as larger scales plus the finite speed of gravity translate into longer timescales for collapse.
—Big Think, 3 Mar. 2026
Because of a bright waning gibbous moon on that night, many fainter meteors will be washed out, particularly in the northern latitudes.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washed-out
Adjective
-
And today, free tuition could be the PR tonic California needs to brighten its faded image across America.—
George Skelton,
Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Lucky Brand nails the baggy, wide-leg aesthetic with these ultra-low jeans that have a faded wash that feels perfect for spring.—
Eva Thomas,
InStyle,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
They have been seen directing snaking security lines and passing out water bottles to tired travelers.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Step in when someone’s tired or needs a break.—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some players collapsed onto the turf in joyful tears.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Estrada Juarez collapsed into her daughter’s embrace.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The feat, coupled with her easygoing personality and signature bleached halo hair, launched her to global fame.—
Zara Irshad,
San Francisco Chronicle,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Other pictures captured include the Kylie Cosmetics founder in a Dolce & Gabbana bra, Hermès pants, a belt by Balenciaga, dangling earrings by David Webb, and black boots that hit just below her knees, her eyebrows bleached for the shot.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors argue that Duckett was a monster in disguise who abused the badge and brutally raped and killed Teresa before dumping her body in a lake.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Tariq’s father, Azim Khamisa, a businessman, forgave the young man who killed his son and has spent his life working to prevent youth violence.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The formula can be rinsed off like a traditional cleanser or wiped away for improved hydration.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Glass bottles and jars, which should be emptied and rinsed before placing them in recycling.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Hours and hours of rolling green hills and rice paddies passed by the windows, the pale pools amid the shoots flashing bits of sky.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Many of the biblical references, including the rider of the pale horse, come from the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, which is ostensibly about the second coming of Christ and judgment day.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Families are still overwhelmed and caregivers are still exhausted, and far too many conversations are still happening too late.—
Alex Rizo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Why tire himself out, become completely exhausted and out of breath, crumple up the bedsheets that were changed just a few days ago, get someone else’s germs all over himself, and then reek of sweat afterward?—
Agnieszka Szpila,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washed-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washed-out. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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