WASHING Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

washing

verb

Definition of washing

present participle of wash

as in bathing

to flow along or against crystal-clear waters gently wash the island's unspoiled beaches

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

as in splashing

to flow in a broken irregular stream soapy water washing down the drain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wetting

to make wet rain washed the countryside for days on end

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rinsing

to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse washed the baby's hair

Synonyms & Similar Words

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of washing The messages were created using temporary chalk and power-washing techniques, with a cleanup plan in place from the outset. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026 One day, while washing a wooden cutting board, a splinter lodged in my left index finger. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026 Compared to front load washers, top load washers have what’s called an agitator in the center of the vertical drum that’s used to create friction amongst the clothes when washing. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026 The staff was washing knives with no sanitizer in the kitchen. — Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Health teams travel remote, unpaved roads and have reported shortages of protective gear, while a vast population of displaced people struggles to find reliable water sources for washing hands. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 Washing their sheets constantly If your weekly sheet-washing routine occasionally becomes an every-other-week routine, Roberts isn’t concerned. — Angela Haupt, Time, 10 Aug. 2026 Securing a flagship robotic vacuum with pressurized stain pre-treatment, active self-washing roller mopping, and a bagless cyclonic dock for under $900 is an exceptional value. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026 Sutherland says this is another common problem caused by washing towels in standard detergent. — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for washing

Verb

Birds are attracted to just about any water source, but most appreciate a shallow basin for bathing.

— Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026
Private care is astronomical, and Medicare doesn't cover the custodial care this disease requires, the day-to-day help with bathing and dressing and supervision that can go on for a decade.

— Sue Peschin, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of bathing

Verb

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was on the other plane flying with the president, sources said.

— Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Patrick Gotwalt was a passenger on the flight and recorded a video showing flames coming from the engine as the flight appears to be flying over water.

— Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of flying

Verb

Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.

— M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Make sure water penetrates to the deep roots in addition to wetting surface roots.

— Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of wetting

Verb

Some American Standard models also include a series of openings in the rim that create a power flush, rinsing away material that often collects under the rim over time.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
In her view, the benefit of rinsing to cut sodium outweighs the small dip in vitamin content.

— Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of rinsing

Verb

The Virgo Moon moves through your 9th House of Travel, Learning, and Perspective, stirring curiosity and a desire to expand.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
Nevertheless, everything just merges into one, even at times of high drama, such as Middlesbrough’s stirring run to the 2006 UEFA Cup final.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of stirring

Verb

Fernandes says the north side of the park is much better than the south side because his team is working section by section to bring change, noting that a safe park is critical to the well-being of the people who live in the area.

— Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
For this fixture, Aaronson seems like the safer, reassuring, hard-working choice Farke will make.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of working

Verb

Frequent zoom-ins shown on screens showed sweat dripping down his face, and his hair resembled something similar to a mad scientist after an experiment blows up in their face.

— Joseph Hernandez August 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
Sunburned in my memory was the wall of belts, cuffs and chokers dripping gloriously in silver studs.

— Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026