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
Oxygen bleach soaks—Oxygen bleach (not to be confused with chlorine bleach) is a gentle yet powerful whitening agent.
—
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Sometimes, manufacturers add preservatives or whitening agents.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Following the success of its Strawberry Smile collaboration with Sanrio, Moon is teaming up again with Hello Kitty to launch a mint and chocolate-flavored collection, featuring a few of the beauty brand’s bestselling essentials, such as the whitening pen duo and toothpaste.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
My knuckles whitened against the steering wheel.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Sometimes, manufacturers add preservatives or whitening agents.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Following the success of its Strawberry Smile collaboration with Sanrio, Moon is teaming up again with Hello Kitty to launch a mint and chocolate-flavored collection, featuring a few of the beauty brand’s bestselling essentials, such as the whitening pen duo and toothpaste.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
My knuckles whitened against the steering wheel.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiten
Verb
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The photo was too sun-bleached to discern much else, but there was an e-mail address and a WhatsApp number to contact if anyone found her.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
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If possible, hang-drying towels in the sun can help naturally bleach and brighten them, thanks to the sun’s UV rays.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As anger fades into apathy and grief is aggravated by guilt, the public also chooses silence.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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While pie crust seems to be fading away, some chefs would rather think completely outside the box by creating a completely different crust.—
Amber Love Bond,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The powerful serum is formulated with vitamin C, licorice root extract, and a triple peptide complex that brightens and soothes the skin, all while improving elasticity and providing you with a refreshing, healthy glow.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
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By September, the peaks often receive their first dusting of snow, while golden aspens brighten the lower stretches of the road, creating a mix that beautifully highlights the changing seasons in the park.—
Abby Price,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whiten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiten. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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