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
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
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
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
Over-micing of the looming Tim the Enchanter, against a psychedelic overboil of bright, surreal colorings on the screens, washed out much of the scene below.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
Now, as crypto enters yet another winter, with token prices plummeting and excitement washed out by AI hype, Dragonfly is announcing its fourth fund, a $650 million vehicle.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 17 Feb. 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
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
Over-micing of the looming Tim the Enchanter, against a psychedelic overboil of bright, surreal colorings on the screens, washed out much of the scene below.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
Now, as crypto enters yet another winter, with token prices plummeting and excitement washed out by AI hype, Dragonfly is announcing its fourth fund, a $650 million vehicle.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 17 Feb. 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
-
Albanese said the context in which the agreement was reached was an important factor in allowing negotiations that collapsed in October 2023 to restart.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Denver firefighters searched through a parking garage that partially collapsed on Monday afternoon.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
23 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
-
At least 66 people were killed and several others injured when a military transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday in Colombia’s Puerto Leguízamo, according to an AP report.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The two pilots were killed, the only fatalities, and 40 people were hospitalized.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Glass bottles and jars, which should be emptied and rinsed before placing them in recycling.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
After not hitting a ball in the water for 64 holes, Åberg rinsed it at both 11 and 12 to post consecutive sixes.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Flowers are not spectacular but attractive enough with pale mauve and tan petals.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
-
But what was served up were stale, pale sketches that seemed to have been exhumed from some old codger’s book of gags from 19 bloody 50!—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
21 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 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
