whitens

verb

present tense third-person singular of whiten
as in bleaches
to make white or whiter by removing color years of sunlight had almost completely whitened the flag

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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 whitens According to Hill, good old-fashioned sunlight naturally kills bacteria, refreshes items, and whitens fabrics. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitens
  1. bleaches
  2. fades
  3. brightens
Verb
  • His owner, Hannah Gleason from Oklahoma, told Newsweek that the merle gene isn’t a coloring gene rather than a gene that bleaches the fur and causes lack of pigmentation which can lead to birth defects, blindness, deafness, or sometimes all three.
    — Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of bleaches
Verb
  • As new variants emerge and immunity from prior exposure fades, conditions become more favorable for infection.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Copley agrees with this sentiment, noting that the scent of essential oils fades quicker if a room is too cold, drafty, or large.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of fades
Verb
  • Meanwhile, glycerin, betaine, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, and beta-glucan flood the area with hydration, while niacinamide brightens the look of dullness and uneven tone.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Its dewy coverage gives cheeks a bright, doll-like, natural flush that highlights the cheekbones and brightens complexions.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of brightens

Browse Nearby Words

whitening
whitens
white-tie
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Cite this Entry

“Whitens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitens. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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