1
2
as in flies
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the employee's story about missing the bus didn't wash with her manager
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in splashes
to flow in a broken irregular stream
soapy water washing down the drain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in wets
to make wet
rain washed the countryside for days on end
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in marshes
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water
an invasive species threatening the plants native to the region's washes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of washes
Tammy Webber, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
And believe me, a person who receives warmth, love, and care from us—who washes and styles their hair—is someone who walks back into the world feeling confident, inspired, and ready to spread kindness further.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 24 Feb. 2026
The meaning of consciousness is immersion in multitudinous flowing tastes, olfactory rumors, vibrations, racing to understand before the ocean washes them away, these sensations like spherical and syncopated waves crashing against her hundred tentacles.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
While one parent feeds them, the other washes their sheets.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
As laundry expert Bree Uebergang explains, the key variations in the two cycles mainly comes down to the amount of agitation involved as the machine washes your items.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
My one gripe with trench coats is that the tawny beige shade washes me out.
—Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
Simply hold the brush in place, and sit back as the machine thoroughly washes and dries your bristles within thirty seconds.
—Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026
Neither washes his hands in the kitchen.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
Skip the Produce Wash, Try Baking Soda Instead The FDA and USDA advise against using soap, bleach, produce washes or detergents on fruits and vegetables.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Skip soap, produce washes, bleach and detergents entirely.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
The duvet cover also sits atop of another comforter in Brooklyn, that of shopping writer Julia Harrison, who points out that the material grew considerably softer after a couple months’ worth of washes and use.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 25 Mar. 2026
Zara knows this to be true, since this pair has both and comes in three versatile washes.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2026
Twice each day, the outgoing tide on this beach near Savannah washes sand into the sea.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
This dry shampoo is long-lasting, smells amazing, and gives just the volumizing pick-me-up my bangs need on days between washes.
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
Protect your down comforter from accumulating dust and oils between washes with a duvet cover and top sheet.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
Rain washes hazardous chemicals out of the atmosphere in a relatively short period of time, experts said, but people exposed to black rain should take precautions to avoid health risks, both short-term and long-term.
—Tammy Webber, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
And believe me, a person who receives warmth, love, and care from us—who washes and styles their hair—is someone who walks back into the world feeling confident, inspired, and ready to spread kindness further.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 24 Feb. 2026
The meaning of consciousness is immersion in multitudinous flowing tastes, olfactory rumors, vibrations, racing to understand before the ocean washes them away, these sensations like spherical and syncopated waves crashing against her hundred tentacles.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
While one parent feeds them, the other washes their sheets.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
As laundry expert Bree Uebergang explains, the key variations in the two cycles mainly comes down to the amount of agitation involved as the machine washes your items.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
My one gripe with trench coats is that the tawny beige shade washes me out.
—Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
Simply hold the brush in place, and sit back as the machine thoroughly washes and dries your bristles within thirty seconds.
—Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026
Neither washes his hands in the kitchen.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
The latest trends in celebrity denim style highlight a preference for worn-in washes, relaxed silhouettes, and blue jeans styled as a foundation for more polished, professional looks.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
Skip the Produce Wash, Try Baking Soda Instead The FDA and USDA advise against using soap, bleach, produce washes or detergents on fruits and vegetables.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Skip soap, produce washes, bleach and detergents entirely.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
The duvet cover also sits atop of another comforter in Brooklyn, that of shopping writer Julia Harrison, who points out that the material grew considerably softer after a couple months’ worth of washes and use.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 25 Mar. 2026
Zara knows this to be true, since this pair has both and comes in three versatile washes.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2026
Twice each day, the outgoing tide on this beach near Savannah washes sand into the sea.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026
This dry shampoo is long-lasting, smells amazing, and gives just the volumizing pick-me-up my bangs need on days between washes.
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
Protect your down comforter from accumulating dust and oils between washes with a duvet cover and top sheet.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washes
Verb
-
So that's the fluid that bathes your brain.—
Will Croxton,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
As the moon moves through Earth's shadow, sunlight filtering through our atmosphere bathes it in shades of red and orange, turning the moon blood red.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Banish flies from your home this spring with this easy-to-use insect trap.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Back at Mill Creek Park, amid a crowd of protesters taking a breather after the march, one demonstrator flies a kite.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Effective medical alert devices must be in good working condition when a shower, rain, or accidental submersion splashes them.—
Craig Lebrau,
USA Today,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Eddie then opens the paint can, splashes it onto the graffiti, and gets into an argument with the store security guard for making a mess in the parking lot.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even a simple soaker hose is better than a sprinkler system that wets the foliage, which can make plants prone to blights and mildews.—
Marie Iannotti,
The Spruce,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Sweat that can’t escape wets a jacket’s layer of insulation and accelerates heat loss.—
Longji Cui,
The Conversation,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The pH-balanced formula effectively lifts away makeup, bacteria, and daily buildup, then rinses off easily without leaving residue behind.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In a cave that sheltered freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad, their uncle shares a story of a creature that stirs at night.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Where the pre-retroshade plants seeds and the retrograde stirs them up, the post-retroshade is where clarity arrives and choices get made.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Cord grass ripples across these languorous northern marshes and, while ships lay wounded and stranded in the former Aral, all that remains of the old Parkgate are some very old photographs, showing frigates, sand, and some very fetching Victorian bathing attire.—
Rob Crossan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Mar. 2026
-
But during this year’s drought, much of that water is evaporating before reaching the marshes, Davis said.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The receptionist works behind a period cabinet converted into the sort of desk Philip Marlowe would happily put his feet on and Art Deco ornamentations abound, from the beautiful clocks, to the slightly sinister candlesticks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The acidic composition of white vinegar works efficiently to break down the film that can accumulate on your windows.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washes. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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