as in disaster
something that has failed
the fashion designer's last showing was a complete washout
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to collapse
to be unsuccessful
most of the participants in the tough training program washed out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bleach
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 to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
that last illness washed the child out completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 washout
Jay Woods, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Expectations going up after two straight Playoff washouts.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The product washes out super easily and leaves my hair feeling noticeably silkier, even when wet.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for washout
Noun
If concerned about that gap, then nibble here and wait for that potential washout to add.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Expectations going up after two straight Playoff washouts.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Surging mortgage rates are threatening to wash out the spring homebuying season.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
The product washes out super easily and leaves my hair feeling noticeably silkier, even when wet.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for washout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washout
Noun
-
It’s been roughly 11 months since the Knicks and Celtics met in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, a series ending in disaster for the Celtics, who were favored to beat the Knicks before blowing consecutive 20-point leads to open the semifinals.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The disaster declaration will cover Kankakee, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston, and Will counties.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Demolition and recovery operations will resume Sunday morning at the site of the parking garage that partially collapsed this week in Grays Ferry.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
As bat populations have collapsed, farmers have turned to more expensive and less effective alternatives like pesticides.—
Leah Campbell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some vignettes had the grainy shading of excessive toner powder, while others were bleached out.—
Katherine Rochester,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Unicharm could already turn these materials into other hygienic products like toilet paper, but a new ozone treatment designed to bleach, sterilize, and deodorize the pulp is widening the possibilities even further.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The temperature at first pitch was 37 degrees and continued to drop, with players wearing full sleeves and many wearing head coverings.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Players schlep downstairs, wearing slippers or sandals, and walk through the game plan and what to expect from their opponents.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Scrub the area with a nylon brush, then rinse with clean water.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Open the umbrella completely, and rinse it thoroughly with a normal garden hose.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Eno understood that creative blocks are almost always a failure of perspective, not a failure of talent, and sometimes failure can even be an important part of the process overall.—
Jennifer Sodini,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The agency said the failure could reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Minnesota had another power-play chance after Rantanen's slashing penalty with 2 1/2 minutes left, but failed to score even with an extra skater after pulling Filip Gustavsson out of the net.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But that figure predates major advances in cleanup technology and fails to account for available state and federal funding.—
Charles Rilli,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When momentum faded, the stock rolled over, and those same lines flipped to resistance on the way down.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The letters are printed on the sides of the keys rather than the top, which prevents fading.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washout. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
