1
as in white
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in bleached
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in faded
to make white or whiter by removing color
years of sunlight had almost completely whitened the flag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 whitened
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
My knuckles whitened against the steering wheel.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Rub a small amount of oil, like mayonnaise or vegetable oil, on the whitened area; natural oils should suffice.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
My knuckles whitened against the steering wheel.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitened
Adjective
-
Jackie Tohn looks elegant in a white button-down top and black flowing skirt at the Venice Family Clinic HEART Gala in Culver City, California, on April 18.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The formula also features sodium hyaluronate to draw in moisture and keep skin looking plump, along with botanical extracts like lotus, gardenia, and white waterlily to help soothe and boost radiance.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Just seven days’ exposure to shipping noise weakens the immune systems of blue mussels; but a process called acoustic enrichment, broadcasting the sound of a healthy reef, can attract marine life back to a bleached one, restitching the acoustic fabric of an entire ecosystem.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Nicholas Hoult beams with his bleached hair and Prada button-up courtside at the Lakers versus Cleveland Cavaliers game in Los Angeles on March 31.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The shine on the Dodgers’ most historic rivalry has faded, right along with the Giants.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Months later, Vandersloot said any hurt feelings caused by Reese’s comments have faded into the background.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Instead, the moss’s telltale sign of woe is its glum, grayish hue, a waxen appearance that comes from ferns and algae that have crept over it.—
Sabrina Imbler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Dec. 2020
Adjective
-
Many people rely on pre-washed salad mix for its convenience.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
6 Apr. 2026
-
As far as the yellow bed sheets go, this feels like the truest butter yellow—still pastel but not white-washed.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The cold of winter can leave your complexion dry, sallow, and desperate for hydration.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Skin color was not black, observed Roggeveen, but pale yellow or sallow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Unlike the children, who look like waxy versions of my own, this is my husband, with the soft face and the plaid shirt and the puppy dog— Eyes.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
7 Apr. 2026
-
High-starch potatoes will take a little longer to soften fully, while waxier or smaller varieties may cook faster.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With this $1-billion project — financed with help from state and federal loans and grants, and with funds from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — Los Angeles will for the first time transform wastewater into purified drinking water.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Butlers place refillable water bottles ensuite that passengers can fill with purified still and sparkling water in their refrigerators, or at filling stations around the ship to use on board and ashore.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whitened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitened. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
