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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Recent Examples of whiten
While citrus can be used to whiten fabrics, it’s not recommended for dark or delicate fabrics that can be damaged or stained by the citric acid.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2025
Saudi Arabia’s attempt to whiten its reputation through professional golf is the example of the terrible golfer who has all of the expensive equipment, latest gear and shoots 19-over par.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2025
Plus, score savings on the ultra-popular Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and these Crest teeth whitening strips.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 11 July 2025
Get a picture-perfect smile with this powerful home teeth whitening kit.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2025
Saudi Arabia’s attempt to whiten its reputation through professional golf is the example of the terrible golfer who has all of the expensive equipment, latest gear and shoots 19-over par.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2025
Plus, score savings on the ultra-popular Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and these Crest teeth whitening strips.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 11 July 2025
Get a picture-perfect smile with this powerful home teeth whitening kit.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiten
Verb
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The coral, now bleached, is alive, but slowly starving.—
Denise Hruby,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
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For example, coral reefs are bleaching more often and dying due to ocean warming and acidification, undermining fisheries, marine biodiversity and economic sectors such as tourism.—
Lauren Gifford,
Space.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After a pause, the composition takes on a searching quality, as the melody travels from one instrument to the next, including a compelling viola solo performed by principal viola Maiya Papach, eventually fading out to nothing, leaving the audience suspended in uneasy quiet.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
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The long-standing expectation was that these resonance signals would fade and become negligible as the momentum transfer increased.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The range gets extra credit for its white and beige shades that can be used to brighten your waterlines.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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This creamy, cheesy soup also brightens cold weather with its pretty green hue.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whiten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiten. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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