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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in washout
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whitewash
Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Neither the removal of a mural nor attempts to whitewash the past can change those facts.
—Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Mar. 2025
Tim Ellis, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Darts finals have been won more handsomely — the sport’s all-time great Phil Taylor dished out three 7-0 whitewashes in his heyday — but not like this.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whitewash
Verb
Traditional towns feature cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, azulejo tiles, red pantiles, and lacework chimney pots.
—Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Neither the removal of a mural nor attempts to whitewash the past can change those facts.
—Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
This was total obliteration too, a three-nil whitewash that was clinical and composed.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Darts finals have been won more handsomely — the sport’s all-time great Phil Taylor dished out three 7-0 whitewashes in his heyday — but not like this.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whitewash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitewash
Verb
-
The Murrow perspective allows Clooney and Heslov to ignore the actual Communist contamination of both the media and the government.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Soviet citizens in the 1980s could no longer ignore the glaring differences between the utopian promises of communism and the reality of an autocratic and incompetent regime.—
Margaret MacMillan,
The Atlantic,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Behaviors once deemed unacceptable are becoming normalized and excused.—
Toby Wong,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
The school board then revised its Religious Diversity Guidelines to limit the circumstances when students can be excused to noncurricular activities or free-time events that conflict with their family's religious practices.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But in the crypto world, it was celebrated as a moment of vindication.—
David Yaffe-Bellany,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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While Duterte's arrest is a moment of vindication for those who have campaigned for the victims of the anti-drugs crackdown, Arguelles says the former president still maintains plenty of support.—
Adam Hancock,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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With the three-day washout in stocks continuing Monday, traders were still expecting the central bank to wait until June before its next interest rate cut.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Cinema Saviours After years of the washout of the Covid years, the appearance of Oppenheimer and Barbie, appearing in cinemas at the same time gave us the much talked about ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon, with many people choosing to see both films on the same day.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Clear communication with borrowers One can forgive borrowers for being confused in this moment.—
Preston Cooper,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Indeed, you could be forgiven for growing slightly cynical of the big pledges, glossy roadmaps, endless subsidy schemes, and constant climate conferences.—
Antoine Rostand,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Reports indicate that some Republican senators have been weighing whether eliminating the California rules justifies breaking that norm.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
1 May 2025
-
The Guardians didn’t feel Gimenez offered enough offense to justify his long-term contract, which becomes increasingly expensive.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Noun
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In fact, in some cases, providing explanations can reduce trust by exposing the system’s limitations or offering post-hoc rationalizations that users instinctively recognize as hollow.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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This baffling rationalization ignores the entire point of the process by which visa holders become permanent residents and, often, citizens (not to mention the existence of time).—
Jay Caspian Kang,
The New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Caliente – real name Bianca Castro -had in recent days suffered a serious health setback which included the loss of her right leg.—
Caroline Frost,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2025
-
The Two-Way Justice Department Issues Scathing Report On Baltimore Police Department There have been setbacks in Sandtown, too.—
Sarah Handel,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whitewash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewash. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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