Synonyms of washing

washing

verb

present participle of wash

1

as in bathing

to flow along or against

crystal-clear waters gently wash the island's unspoiled beaches

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bathing
• splashing
• rippling
• lapping
• laving
• bubbling
• lipping
• gurgling
• sloshing
• plashing

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

• flying
• working
• passing
• playing
• standing up
• holding water
• taking
• holding up
• passing muster
• going down
• getting through
• going over
• going through

3

as in splashing

to flow in a broken irregular stream

soapy water washing down the drain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• splashing
• dripping
• bubbling
• rippling
• trickling
• lapping
• gurgling
• dribbling
• swirling
• plashing
• rushing
• guggling
• swishing
• eddying
• purling
• dropping
• squirting
• swashing
• swooshing
• spurting
• gushing
• spewing
• jetting
• spouting
• whishing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rolling
• pouring
• running
• streaming

4

as in wetting

to make wet

rain washed the countryside for days on end

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wetting
• drowning
• rinsing
• flooding
• soaking
• bathing
• watering
• flushing
• drenching
• wetting down
• showering
• damping
• sopping
• dousing
• submerging
• waterlogging
• sprinkling
• dipping
• splashing
• water-soaking
• bedraggling
• moistening
• sousing
• soddening
• moisturizing
• hydrating
• humidifying
• saturating
• misting
• inundating
• drizzling
• overflowing
• irrigating
• sluicing
• impregnating
• deluging
• laving
• swamping
• dampening
• hosing (down)
• dunking
• bedewing
• steeping
• sloshing
• aspersing
• rewashing
• ducking
• rehydrating
• rewetting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drying
• dehydrating
• scorching
• searing
• evaporating
• parching
• desiccating
• dewatering
• freeze-drying
• wringing
• dehumidifying
• drip-drying

5

as in rinsing

to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse

washed the baby's hair

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rinsing
• flushing
• flooding
• irrigating
• sluicing
• washing out
• flowing
• inundating
• engulfing
• soaking
• swamping
• streaming
• gushing
• saturating
• drenching
• rushing
• hosing
• deluging
• splashing
• sloshing
• douching
• dousing

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

• stirring
• swirling
• churning
• agitating
• shaking
• whipping
• whirling
• whisking
• beating
• paddling
• reeling
• wheeling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of washing

Reacher stumbles out into the street and collapses, sheets of rain washing the blood from his mighty frame. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026

Folding small clothes; washing little faces; sunscreen; a million snacks. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

The same survey found that 40 percent of consumers who wear jeans are washing them after every single wear, or every two to three wears. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis includes washing the wound in question, receiving the human rabies vaccine, and, if necessary, rabies immunoglobulins, according to the World Health Organization. — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026

Those areas have not closed, but campers are required to bring their own water for drinking and washing their hands. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2026

Other ways to conserve include turning off the water while brushing your teeth or washing your face, shortening shower times, repurposing water, or turning off the kitchen faucet while washing dishes. — Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Another employee put on gloves, but did so without washing hands first. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026

In a single-person household, washing your bath mat every one to two weeks is typically sufficient. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026