as in to bleach
to make white or whiter by removing color
years of sunlight had almost completely whitened the flag
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whiten
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
At that point, the knuckles started to whiten on Causeway Street.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Pairs that make the cut are cleaned from the sole upward, disinfected inside and, in some cases, whitened under UV light before being put back into circulation.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Use vinegar as a bleach-free alternative to whiten your whites.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
At that point, the knuckles started to whiten on Causeway Street.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Pairs that make the cut are cleaned from the sole upward, disinfected inside and, in some cases, whitened under UV light before being put back into circulation.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Use vinegar as a bleach-free alternative to whiten your whites.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiten
Verb
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The wheat straw was then cut into smaller pieces and pretreated to remove dust and other fine particles, and then bleached.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
-
Reichert suggests using a stiff push broom and lemon juice; the acid in the lemon juice partners with sunshine to bleach out stains.—
Emerson Latham,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 May 2026
Verb
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While desirable homes still sell quickly, frenzied bidding wars have faded.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
Deadheading Is Another Form Of Pinching Back Deadheading is similar to pinching back, but it is done once the flowers begin to fade.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Layer recessed lights, sconces, and floor lamps to brighten low-light areas.—
Jody Garlock,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2026
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With continued use, the eye gel can help reduce crow’s feet and other fine lines around the eye area, smooth out under-eye bags, and even brighten up the area for a more awake-looking glow.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whiten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiten. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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