as in failing
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1
as in collapsing
to be unsuccessful
most of the participants in the tough training program washed out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bleaching
to make white or whiter by removing color
the bright lights of the TV studio washed out her facial features, making her look as white as a ghost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wearing
to use up all the physical energy of
that last illness washed the child out completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rinsing
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
wash out your bathing suit in the sink
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of washing-out
Tammy Webber,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Then came this spring's historic and devastating floods across northern Michigan — in some areas, for the first time anyone can remember — swamping homes, pushing dams to the brink of failure and washing out roadways.
—
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The heavy rain, fueled in part by the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, drenched much of the Southeast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle, causing flash flood emergencies, washing out roads, and prompting emergency rescues.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
In 1987, the Guadalupe surged near Comfort, washing out a bus and killing 10 teenagers on board.
—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
The Best Way To Dry A Swimsuit After washing out sunscreen, salt, chlorine, and body soil from your swimsuit (handwashing is best), rinse it thoroughly in cool water.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Tiny water droplets can scatter light, washing out the vivid reds and oranges.
—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
That's it—no waiting and washing out required.
—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Helene caused catastrophic damage across western North Carolina, washing out roads including stretches of Interstate 40 that collapsed into the Pigeon River Gorge, damaging bridges and isolating entire communities.
—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Then came this spring’s historic and devastating floods across northern Michigan — in some areas, for the first time anyone can remember — swamping homes, pushing dams to the brink of failure and washing out roadways.
—
Tammy Webber,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Then came this spring's historic and devastating floods across northern Michigan — in some areas, for the first time anyone can remember — swamping homes, pushing dams to the brink of failure and washing out roadways.
—
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The heavy rain, fueled in part by the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, drenched much of the Southeast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle, causing flash flood emergencies, washing out roads, and prompting emergency rescues.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
In 1987, the Guadalupe surged near Comfort, washing out a bus and killing 10 teenagers on board.
—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
The Best Way To Dry A Swimsuit After washing out sunscreen, salt, chlorine, and body soil from your swimsuit (handwashing is best), rinse it thoroughly in cool water.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Tiny water droplets can scatter light, washing out the vivid reds and oranges.
—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
That's it—no waiting and washing out required.
—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Helene caused catastrophic damage across western North Carolina, washing out roads including stretches of Interstate 40 that collapsed into the Pigeon River Gorge, damaging bridges and isolating entire communities.
—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washing-out
Adjective
-
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
Verb
-
Everything is collapsing around them, but Richie has a plan.
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This process is collapsing the filmmaking process into fewer steps, Amazon Web Services’ General Manager of Media and Entertainment Samira Bakhtiar said in an interview.
Verb
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Nolasco said a taper is the favorite haircut these days and there’s also players bleaching their hair blond for the playoffs.
-
Justine Skye took this mousy brown look to the next level by bleaching her brows to match.
Verb
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He was last seen wearing a light green shirt, camouflage shorts and white socks.
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Murdaugh’s team initially asked that he be allowed to come to all court appearances, including pretrial hearings, wearing civilian clothes and unshackled.
Verb
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Carve Out an Outdoor Shower For rinsing off after a day at the nearby beach, Wood installed an outdoor shower.
-
This can be done by rinsing or wiping the board with a dishcloth or paper towel.
Adjective
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These are challenges that supposedly don't hit a flat, non-folding display anywhere near as hard.
-
Scroll on for more Walmart patio picks, including a folding Adirondack chair under $100, a resort-style pergola, and a classic steel garden bench available in over a dozen colors.
Verb
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Matthews responded by retiring Tommy Edman for the first time in three at-bats and striking out backup catcher Chuckie Robinson.
-
Kirby allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings, allowing eight hits, striking out five and walking two.
Verb
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Their self-cleaning nature means blooms drop naturally after fading, eliminating tedious deadheading.
-
Halsey and her fans’ outrage over an old album review is showing no signs of fading.
Cite this Entry
“Washing-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washing-out. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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