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
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Recent Examples of whiten
Mondelez has Forever Oreos, and Colgate has a product that can whiten teeth in a week.
—
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
The files include jokey exchanges and emails planning visits to Epstein properties, teeth-whitening appointments and shopping trips.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Over a period of about 10 years, London had more than 30 procedures, including several nose jobs, eyelid surgeries, brow and temple lifts and whitening skin injections, spending in excess of $200,000.
—Amanda Montell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Your next tooth-whitening and repairing substance might well be a new powder developed by Shanghai researchers.
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
The files include jokey exchanges and emails planning visits to Epstein properties, teeth-whitening appointments and shopping trips.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Over a period of about 10 years, London had more than 30 procedures, including several nose jobs, eyelid surgeries, brow and temple lifts and whitening skin injections, spending in excess of $200,000.
—Amanda Montell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Your next tooth-whitening and repairing substance might well be a new powder developed by Shanghai researchers.
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiten
Verb
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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
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Other pictures captured include the Kylie Cosmetics founder in a Dolce & Gabbana bra, Hermès pants, a belt by Balenciaga, dangling earrings by David Webb, and black boots that hit just below her knees, her eyebrows bleached for the shot.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Scout seems insightful, based on its response to a question posed by The Associated Press about why one of Silicon Valley's brightest stars faded away a decade ago.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
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This year's Oscars may be in the rearview mirror, but for one Detroit designer, the spotlight hasn't faded.—
Lauren Winfrey,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ferulic acid boosts that brightening trio, while niacinamide and tangerine peel extract help even things out over time.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
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This serum is packed with 15% vitamin C and a barrier boost complex that brightens, firms and supports collagen.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whiten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiten. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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