1
as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance
refused to whitewash the governor's chronic disregard for the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to excuse
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
don't try to whitewash your rudeness by claiming that you were having a bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in vindication
Related Words
2
as in washout
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of whitewash
Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The festival, taking place in Riyadh from September 26 to October 9, has been widely condemned as an attempt to whitewash the Saudi regime, which heavily criminalizes LGBTQ+ people and has ordered the killing of journalists like Jamal Khashoggi.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 6 Oct. 2025
The Athletic, New York Times, 28 July 2025
With a professional tour record of 6–0 over Australian sides, the Lions now aim to secure a 3–0 series whitewash on Australian soil for the first time since 1974.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for whitewash
Verb
Burr’s comments come amid backlash from fellow comedians and human rights groups who see the festival as a PR effort by the Saudi government to whitewash its record.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The festival, taking place in Riyadh from September 26 to October 9, has been widely condemned as an attempt to whitewash the Saudi regime, which heavily criminalizes LGBTQ+ people and has ordered the killing of journalists like Jamal Khashoggi.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
Instead, focus on having highly competitive games in which something is always at stake, not a cricket score whitewash.
—The Athletic, New York Times, 28 July 2025
With a professional tour record of 6–0 over Australian sides, the Lions now aim to secure a 3–0 series whitewash on Australian soil for the first time since 1974.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for whitewash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitewash
Verb
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The same is true of Guiteau’s eventual imprisonment and trial, which aren’t ignored but barely touch on the wackiness that actually ensued.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
-
There were extremely rich philosophical traditions in the non-Western world that your great books classes completely ignore.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That does not excuse, but that’s his personal [life].—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
9 Nov. 2025
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But missing Curry did not excuse the team’s lapses.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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At the end of the third, though, Rizzi earned vindication.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Burkhart felt a sense of triumph—and even vindication—at the results.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Market breadth was negative but not a washout, new 52-week highs were still well ahead of new lows.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The storm also left people trapped in seven vehicles on nearby roads after overflowing creeks caused washouts, deputies said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Even amid a government shutdown, so much is happening in Washington, at such a rapid clip and such a high pitch, that a browser of The New York Times’ homepage could be forgiven for giving up and clicking straight through to Spelling Bee.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
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You'd be forgiven for being a little sick of A Christmas Story, Bob Clark's beloved tale about 9-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and the Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle he so fiercely desires.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Critics also question whether demand will continue to grow at a fast enough pace to justify the investment.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
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Some investors are also skeptical whether future profit growth will continue to justify the enormous amounts of spending taking place.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In the month since trading Parsons, Jones has offered a steady stream of rationalizations, some of which sound more plausible than others.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Ideological stances often come after political ones, essentially post-facto rationalizations.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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China’s private rocket maker Galactic Energy suffered a setback after its Ceres-1 rocket failed during launch on Monday, resulting in the loss of three satellites.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
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The Ceres-1 bounced back from that problem, notching 11 consecutive successes before Sunday night's setback.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whitewash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewash. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
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