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 Baking soda is great for whitening and removing stains, and sometimes nothing is tougher than coffee and tea stains left behind on our favorite ceramic mugs. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 11 May 2026 This uses a chemical solution of 2% hydrogen peroxide with the abrasive calcium pyrophosphate to whiten your teeth. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 The best use of baking soda for stain removal is as a whitening agent to brighten dingy white or light-colored clothes or household goods. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026 The rest of their tooth-care regimen includes flossing daily, tongue scraping and using mouthwash as needed, along with the occasional use of whitening strips. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whiten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiten

Verb

Light, almost bleached, jeans and white denim are having a main-character moment in 2026.

— René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 9 July 2026
Wet grass is susceptible to fungal infections like rust disease, dollar spot, and red thread, which can cause bleached or dead grass or orange spots on individual blades of grass.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 July 2026

Definition of bleach

Verb

Most of Future’s peers in the post-Lil Wayne digital-trap era of the early 2010s, from fellow Atlanta stars Young Thug and 2 Chainz to Southern boldfaced names like Kodak Black and Kevin Gates, have faded back into the regional-rap morass.

— Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026
Each song explores a different kind of longing—lovers come together but fall apart, dreams fade away only to have resolutions renewed—against a different strain of soul.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026

Definition of fade

Verb

Air molecules reflect and scatter light beyond an immediate beam, which is why the sky starts brightening at dawn even before the sun climbs above the horizon.

— Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 July 2026
Detroit has also allowed a league-high 153 points through three weeks, further brightening Crawford’s outlook.

— Juan Carlos Blanco, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026