WHITEN Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

whiten

verb

ˈ(h)wī-tᵊn

Definition of whiten

as in to bleach

to make white or whiter by removing color years of sunlight had almost completely whitened the flag

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 whiten As the years have gone on and his hair has whitened, Gere has become nearly as famous for his charity and his spirituality as his acting. — Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 Someone who wants whitening to live inside brushing may find the Glossonic setup more relevant. — Matt Emma, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 While a good whitening toothpaste can work to keep stains away on a day-to-day basis, these more potent kits typically use strips, trays, or a pen to deliver their whitening agents—usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide—to your teeth. — Sara Coughlin, Allure, 8 Sep. 2026 The bestselling whitening strips have more than 62,000 positive reviews. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whiten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiten

Verb

But their research findings could open the door to a new intervention to help corals recover from bleaching events.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Eco effort While over 80% of the reefs around the resort were bleached following the dramatic temperature rises of El Nino in 2016, the resort is throwing everything at its coral nursery and the green shoots are showing.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of bleach

Verb

That terrible scenario that doesn't easily fade definitely caused everyone to believe Quinn was at it again on Monday night – messing up again, forgetting that the last play was fourth down instead of third down.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Yet, in the urban South, recent linguistic research finds that the drawl’s most salient features are starting to fade on the lips of young speakers.

— Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of fade

Verb

Brightening Eye Gel $76 Designed to brighten, hydrate, and de-puff, Tata Harper’s soothing eye gel is one of my morning must-haves—and it’s also dermatologist approved.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
Dalton also likes using it to deglaze a pan or brighten a sauce at the end of cooking.

— Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026