1
2
as in flying
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 splashing
to flow in a broken irregular stream
soapy water washing down the drain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in wetting
to make wet
rain washed the countryside for days on end
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in rinsing
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
washed the baby's hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in stirring
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly
she absentmindedly washed her tea by tipping her cup, until the honey was at last mixed in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of washing
Here, fabric care and pediatric experts share their best tips for washing baby and toddler clothing and bedding safely.
—
Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
Auoon Clip-On Pot Strainer This clever clip-on pot strainer takes up less space in the cabinet and the dishwasher, and makes quick work of straining pasta water, washing fruit and vegetables, and more.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
As a teenager, Bajaria helped her immigrant family’s business, washing cars before winning a string of beauty pageants, including Miss India Worldwide in 1991.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 May 2026
The funerals often last multiple days and rituals can involve washing the body and sitting with or sleeping beside the corpse.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for washing
Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026
Auoon Clip-On Pot Strainer This clever clip-on pot strainer takes up less space in the cabinet and the dishwasher, and makes quick work of straining pasta water, washing fruit and vegetables, and more.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
As a teenager, Bajaria helped her immigrant family’s business, washing cars before winning a string of beauty pageants, including Miss India Worldwide in 1991.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 May 2026
The funerals often last multiple days and rituals can involve washing the body and sitting with or sleeping beside the corpse.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for washing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washing
Verb
-
The girl’s mother was bathing her other child when the victim tumbled out of the open second-floor apartment window, a police source said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
Nerra combines the past and present of bathing culture into four products, The Bathhouse Ritual, that are meant to be used as a system.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
How about flying a chopper over the Great Barrier Reef from the on-site helipad?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Beside her, the dog shakes itself, droplets flying from it, then fixes her with an appraising gaze.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The splashing water captured by the camera is abstracted into a nebulous fog that dissolves the profile of a Parisian bridge in the background.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Grown-ups bring a ladder to climb into the enormous fruit, kids gather up their inflatable toys, someone makes a waterslide out of a piece of rind, and the whole community spends the day splashing in the juice and pulp (being careful to remove the seeds first).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Avoid wetting foliage when watering plants or water in the morning if using overhead sprinklers to help minimize foliar disease.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
-
Avoid wetting leaves and vines.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Inside the bucket is a scraper that removes dirt and hair from the mop head while rinsing.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
-
For example, if allergies are due to pollen, staying indoors, using sunglasses or rinsing off your face after exposure can help decrease allergen load around your eyes.—
Neelam Patadia,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
At Eau Bar during early sunset, spring for a poolside lounger to catch a soul-stirring ceremony of bodu beru drummers walking the edge of a circular infinity pool, torch-lighting a fire ring backed by a fading horizon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
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The Human Is Staying In The Picture (Mostly) Screenwriter and director Paul Schrader, at nearly 80 years old an unlikely technology provocateur, delivered a talk at AI on the Lot peppered with pot-stirring takes.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Dabbing the cloth in rubbing alcohol, working away the dirty blots on the glass, waiting for the haze in my head to focus, and a new line to come to me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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The unemployment rate among young people is about twice as high as the national average; and 40% of college grads who are working have taken jobs that don't require a college degree, like temporary or part-time gigs.—
David Pogue,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The cannister featured an image of an angry mutt with saliva dripping from its jaws.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
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Add saucers under containers to catch water to prevent staining the balcony surface and reduce the amount of water dripping on the downstairs neighbors.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washing. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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