as in disaster
something that has failed
the fashion designer's last showing was a complete washout
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to collapse
to be unsuccessful
most of the participants in the tough training program washed out
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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
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3
as in to wear
to use up all the physical energy of
that last illness washed the child out completely
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Example Sentences
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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
Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Economists generally have calculated that whatever economic growth could be ascribed to the change would be washed out by the revenue loss from inflation-indexing only new purchases, and utterly swamped by the cost of indexing all holdings, past and future.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 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
Forecast heavy rain threatened to wash out a parade planned for the following day.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Economists generally have calculated that whatever economic growth could be ascribed to the change would be washed out by the revenue loss from inflation-indexing only new purchases, and utterly swamped by the cost of indexing all holdings, past and future.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for washout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washout
Noun
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Taken to an extreme, an ever-evolving idea of retirement could outlive drastic institutional change, perhaps enduring longer than the institutions of American democracy or beyond climate disaster.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Steve DeJong will retire from the Homewood Fire Department after more than two decades to accept a position at MABAS Illinois, the statewide mutual aid and disaster response coordinator.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Regional sports networks that handled the technical know-how of producing and distributing games across a home team’s market have largely collapsed.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
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How the deal collapsed Thune had a deal with Democratic senators after negotiating for weeks on their demands for new restrictions on the department’s immigration enforcement work.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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The feat, coupled with her easygoing personality and signature bleached halo hair, launched her to global fame.—
Zara Irshad,
San Francisco Chronicle,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cops are searching for multiple suspects wearing ski masks last seen fleeing the scene on foot.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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He was last seen wearing a denim shirt and jeans.—
Jeff Nguyen,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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An employee was washing and rinsing dishes.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The formula can be rinsed off like a traditional cleanser or wiped away for improved hydration.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In 2023, the number dropped significantly, even as supervision failures within jails persisted, down to 63.—
Ryan Oehrli
April 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
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Prosecutors also cited Cortez Johnson's prior probation violations, failures to appear, and past convictions.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the video, Woods can be seen wearing a blue polo shirt and leaning against the patrol car while failing the sobriety tests.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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In other words, when a job requires multiple steps, creativity, or precision, AI replacements are more likely to fail than succeed.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The leader of the Ex-Slave Pension Association was later imprisoned on mail fraud charges, and the organization faded away, while the Eagles became one of the pressure groups that eventually led to Social Security.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Pensions faded, and a new system of 401(k) retirement savings rewarded Americans for working longer.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washout. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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