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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wearing
to use up all the physical energy of
that last illness washed the child out completely
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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
Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 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
Dallas’ defense has been bad on third downs, washing out a resurgent Dak Prescott season (second in passing yards and third in passing touchdowns).
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2025
But his tendency to swing and miss puts him at risk of washing out.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
This October, a full supermoon has graced our skies, washing out the Draconid meteor shower.
—Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
Brightness is stunning, colors pop naturally, and dark scenes stay detailed without washing out, which proves to be great for movie nights or gaming marathons.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Andrew Tate is not washing out.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 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
Dallas’ defense has been bad on third downs, washing out a resurgent Dak Prescott season (second in passing yards and third in passing touchdowns).
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2025
But his tendency to swing and miss puts him at risk of washing out.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
This October, a full supermoon has graced our skies, washing out the Draconid meteor shower.
—Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
Brightness is stunning, colors pop naturally, and dark scenes stay detailed without washing out, which proves to be great for movie nights or gaming marathons.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 2 Sep. 2025
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.—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In September, federal investigators with the National Institute of Standards and Technology said in a statement the partial collapse of the previous tower likely began from the pool deck, which started collapsing before the rest of the building.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The second force is collapsing barriers to entry.—
Michael Jacobides,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Once in a while, black flats compress the space, framing a single character’s face, bathed in a bleaching white light, as if their vulnerabilities were being scanned by an MRI.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The figure skater actually began bleaching her own hair with a paintbrush—and only brought in a professional right before the 2026 Winter Olympics.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That moment came courtesy of a guy wearing a Cubs uniform, but Monday grew up in Santa Monica and delivered his spontaneous commemoration of Flag Day in the year of America’s bicentennial.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
And the University of San Francisco issued a public safety warning to students after a man wearing Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses was suspected of filming women with the intention of posting the videos online.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Experts advise using them gently, wearing protective eyewear, and rinsing the grill after brushing.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The program mimics the routine for produce in consumers’ kitchens, typically rinsing it for 15–20 seconds, before testing for pesticides.—
Andrew Adam Newman,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Most folding bookshelves are made from lightweight materials such as wood, bamboo or metal.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The three units feature the same folding action and design, but certain specs vary.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 6-foot-10 lefty allowed three runs — two scored on his throwing error — in a shaky first before settling down, and striking out four.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Chicago White Sox starter Shane Smith got the best of Gunnar Henderson in an epic 12-pitch at-bat with the bases loaded in the second inning on Tuesday, striking out the Baltimore Orioles star shortstop.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The cast iron ensures even heat distribution and the enamel iresists fading, chipping, cracking, and staining.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Shapiro-Ikenberry led through most of the first half of the race before fading to seventh.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washing-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washing-out. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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