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
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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
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Recent Examples of whitewash
Rebeccah Heinrichs, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
Network television begin to feel, frankly, whitewashed.
—Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 3 Aug. 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
But there’s no whitewashing its flaws.
—Rebeccah Heinrichs, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
Network television begin to feel, frankly, whitewashed.
—Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Noun
By the afternoon, the sun broke through, 4-to 6-foot surf giving the surfers plenty of opportunities, at times the whitewash so powerful water licked the bottom of the concrete pier.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 3 Aug. 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
-
Authorities said Sutton ignored multiple commands to comply and resisted detention.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The background checks on Cook, if in fact there were any, were totally ignored.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That does not excuse, but that’s his personal [life].—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
9 Nov. 2025
-
But missing Curry did not excuse the team’s lapses.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Sunderland’s stalemate at home against Manchester City was more creditable again, and vindication of their approach to the transfer market is the fact that departures to the Africa Cup of Nations haven’t knocked them out of their stride.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
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Some victims of Epstein took a measure of vindication from the release – notably so in the case of Maria Farmer, whose account of complaining to the FBI about Epstein way back in 1996 was validated.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The route is washboarded and deeply rutted in several long stretches, as well as prone to washouts.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Dec. 2025
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When unusually heavy rainfall rendered that year a washout on the farming front, Sue got a job at Beth’s Farm Kitchen, a prominent jam and chutney maker nearby.—
Alexandra Kirkman,
Fortune,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Still, some of these foibles are easier to forgive when seen in service of the greater good.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Reading the media these days, you would be forgiven for thinking the technology, journalism, and investment communities were inadvertently wishing an AI ‘bubble’ into existence.—
Oscar Täckström,
Fortune,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry in early October cleared Rodarte and Trumm of potential wrongdoing, deeming their gunfire in response to Oliver as justified self-defense.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Some of Ross’s actions could be legally justified, Ramsey noted.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Other priorities include fixing the Americas first as the region represents 75 percent of sales, as well as rationalization of the store footprint and format.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
18 Dec. 2025
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The goods and services tax rationalization in September sought to boost domestic consumption and the labor reform is expected to catalyze industrialization and attract more investments.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
27 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Backups Jaylon Moore and Wanya Morris suffered setbacks in subsequent weeks, pushing the Chiefs down to their last options at tackle on the depth chart.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whitewash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewash. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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