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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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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of washout
Anthony Franze, Houston Chronicle, 8 Mar. 2026
This comes amid a debate on the right over what themes to stress to avoid a GOP washout in November.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
While child stars come and go, washed out at 15 and forgotten at 20, Michael has withstood intense exposure for eight years—a remarkable feat for any performer.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for washout
Noun
However, Sunday will not be a washout.
—Anthony Franze, Houston Chronicle, 8 Mar. 2026
This comes amid a debate on the right over what themes to stress to avoid a GOP washout in November.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
The plant’s leaf segments look washed out, pale green or yellowish.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
While child stars come and go, washed out at 15 and forgotten at 20, Michael has withstood intense exposure for eight years—a remarkable feat for any performer.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for washout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washout
Noun
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Boeing has reached confidential pre-trial settlements in most of the dozens of wrongful death lawsuits filed in connection with the Ethiopian Airlines disaster and a similar 737 Max crash five months earlier off the coast of Indonesia that together killed 346 people.—
Rio Yamat,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
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But the 48-year-old former San Francisco County supervisor’s solution — a single-payer-style public disaster insurance program — is poorly defined and presents an enormous risk for a state struggling with chronic deficits.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The weekend, for all its promise, tends to collapse into logistics, half-finished to-do lists and the quiet companionship of two people watching the same screen.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
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Intellectual humility — the willingness to update your beliefs when the machine pushes back, rather than digging in or collapsing entirely.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Verb
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But beyond these gardens the terrain is dry, trees thin; green after summer rains, but parched and bleached for most of the year.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
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Scented and bleached toilet paper can have irritating chemicals, while wiping the wrong way can increase your risk of infection.—
Pamela Assid Woughter,
Verywell Health,
11 May 2026
Verb
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David Letterman and Stephen Colbert stood on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York, wearing suits and clutching watermelons to their chests.—
Elahe Izadi,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
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Bella wore a gold dress from Michael Kors's spring 2023 ready-to-wear collection.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Vulcano About an hour ferry ride from Milazzo, Vulcano lures visitors with its active volcano, Gran Cratere, and open-air mud baths just steps from the port, where bathers slather on the mineral-rich goodness before rinsing in the sea.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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White mineral buildup on fixtures, soap that won’t lather and a tight or filmy feeling after rinsing all point to hard water.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The Virginia house of burgesses voted to thank him and the militia for their service, with the lawmakers attributing the defeat to the failure of the other colonies to come to Virginia’s aid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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Rory McIlroy thinks back on three holes — his failure to birdie the par-5 ninth and the par-5 16th, and a big miss in his biggest moment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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In early 2022, after the state failed to pass a ban on such care for minors, Paxton wrote a legal opinion declaring transition care for minors to be child abuse.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
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The city filed a lawsuit saying the federal government failed to perform required reviews of how the project would affect the health and safety of residents and the environment.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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In terms of where to beach, wide stretches of sand in Beach Haven remain some of the Jersey Shore’s most desirable, drawing surfers at sunrise, families hauling coolers and striped umbrellas by midday, and sunset walkers lingering until the sky fades pink over the dunes.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
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Inside, customers collect passport stamps, browse racks of worn leather and faded denim and line up for limited-edition tote bags tied to the second annual Vintage Store Day.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Washout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washout. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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