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
Breaking Bad actor Raymond Cruz will not be prosecuted following his recent arrest for allegedly spraying someone with a hose while washing his car at home in Los Angeles.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
Experts recommend washing your hands not only before and after working with food, but also after using the restroom and before eating.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Start by washing your hands and running your glasses under lukewarm water.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
The group sees ample opportunity for partnership with some of the denim industry’s leading finishing innovators, who have worked to replace stone-washing techniques—which are polluting and water-guzzling—with lasers to achieve whiskering and distressing.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for washing
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
Experts recommend washing your hands not only before and after working with food, but also after using the restroom and before eating.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Start by washing your hands and running your glasses under lukewarm water.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
The group sees ample opportunity for partnership with some of the denim industry’s leading finishing innovators, who have worked to replace stone-washing techniques—which are polluting and water-guzzling—with lasers to achieve whiskering and distressing.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for washing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washing
Verb
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Dirt, body oil, and dead skin cells sloughed off during bathing also contribute to this sticky residue.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
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These canines need regular, thorough grooming and bathing with quality shampoo, Newsweek previously reported.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In offseason videos, though, he’s been flying through the air and flushing down ferocious dunks, so the athleticism looks to be back.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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In one common attack, known as GPS spoofing, hackers transmit false location data that tricks a drone into flying off course.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Guard Chelsea Gray scored eight of her 17 points in overtime, splashing two critical 3-pointers.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Other ways to stimulate the vagus nerve include cold exposure, like splashing cold water on your face or taking a brief cold shower.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Popular Science,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What sold me on the Shapton set was the process of wetting the whetstones.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
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Increase the resistance on this exercise by wetting the towel first.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Drain the berries in a colander in the sink, rinsing them with a light spray of running water.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
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Drinking it less often, enjoying it with meals or rinsing your mouth out with water after drinking may lessen such adverse effects.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 6 minutes.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
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Cook, stirring often, until apples are slightly softened, about 8 minutes.—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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All federal employees who are not paid during the shutdown, whether they were furloughed or remained working, are entitled by law to back pay once the shutdown ends.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
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Too many working families are being priced out of their own neighborhoods.—
Miami Herald Staff,
Miami Herald,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Produced before the rigid censorship of Hollywood’s Hays Code, The Old Dark House is much more explicit than horror films in the years to follow, dripping with provocations and innuendos, with a daring sensibility befitting a director whose own personal life flew in the face of convention.—
Samantha Allen,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
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Gucci is clearly embracing jewelry as the characters were dripping with huge pieces, including big ’80s-style earrings.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Washing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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