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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of whitewash
ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
In hushed towns like Locorotondo and Martina Franca, whitewashed lanes curve unexpectedly, church bells peal away the hours, and olive trees cast ever longer shadows onto dusty squares.
—Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
Katherine Lagrave, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Visit the whitewash beacon and adjacent lightkeeper’s house located at the Southern end of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whitewash
Verb
Carmen López, Flores and other relatives say the local government is trying to whitewash the issue of the missing ahead of the global sporting event.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
In hushed towns like Locorotondo and Martina Franca, whitewashed lanes curve unexpectedly, church bells peal away the hours, and olive trees cast ever longer shadows onto dusty squares.
—Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
Dating to around 1250, the small church was built of boulders and has since been covered with whitewash.
—Katherine Lagrave, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Visit the whitewash beacon and adjacent lightkeeper’s house located at the Southern end of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whitewash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitewash
Verb
-
This is a youngster in great form and proving hard to ignore.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Some Democrats argue that the cost of ignoring young male voters is higher than the risk of association with Piker.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The judge found her involvement in the fraud scheme during that period undermined her eligibility and that there were no mitigating circumstances to excuse her conduct.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
None of this, of course, is to excuse what Kyle said to Amanda, but an attempt to explain his psychology and illustrate how relationships on these shows are more doomed than Katy Perry’s pop career.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The current war has vindicated their investments in renewable energy – though the vindication has limits.—
Ezgi Canpolat,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
-
His remarks might serve as vindication to the Americans feeling the squeeze from the data center boom.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After 48 years of unsuccessful politicking, one might be tempted to call the idea of indexing capital gains a certified washout.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
There are low chances for rain from Wednesday into the weekend but no day looks like a complete washout.—
Rachael Jay,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Women who report abuse are too often told to forgive, submit, or stay silent.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Not forgive, not empathize, just listen with an open mind.—
Liana Finck,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Policies were justified not with reference to morality or metaphysics but with citations of white papers.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Conflicts abroad, such as in Iran, that may disrupt domestic oil resources could also be used as an argument to justify the need to drill, Sivas said.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Trump, meanwhile, has struck a decidedly defiant tone — offering few of the reassurances or rationalizations that past presidents have offered in the initial stages of war, and sounding more unbothered than embattled.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Two at-odds facts can both be true, and all of us are susceptible to arrogance and self-serving rationalization.—
Carol Quillen,
Time,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Framed as deregulation, the bill sets a statewide minimum lot size of 1,500 square feet while also shrinking setbacks and eliminating dimensional requirements that could stand in the way of building multiple compact homes on at least four acres of land.—
Mark Dee
March 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But even with the weather setback, these trees continue to persist.—
Markis Hill,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whitewash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewash. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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