whitewashes 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of whitewash
1
as in ignores
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 justifies
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

whitewashes

2 of 2

noun

plural of whitewash
1
as in rationalizations

Related Words
2
as in washouts

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Dissimilar Words

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 whitewashes
Verb
Burns, who is Black, also pushed back on criticisms that the state’s new Black history curriculum whitewashes the history of slavery and oppression in America. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 The biography is presented as a clear-eyed and evenhanded examination of Reid’s complex legacy that neither whitewashes his methods nor diminishes his accomplishments. — Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitewashes
  1. ignores
  2. justifies
  3. rationales
  4. washouts
  5. forgives
  6. excuses
  7. justifications
  8. shutouts
Verb
  • Karl Buchholz, Broomfield Recent coverage of RTD’s budget and ridership crisis completely ignores the elephant in the room, public safety.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Two things are always in motion, the agent's confidence and the person's trust, and an interface that ignores both will feel wrong long before anyone can say why.
    — Ravi Palwe, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of ignores
Verb
  • Microsoft’s stock climbed close to 15% after its earnings, which Cohan attributes to revenue growth that justifies its AI infrastructure spending and is bringing it more business.
    — Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • For companies looking to recover duties already paid, Sharad said the first step is determining who served as the importer of record and whether the potential refund justifies the administrative effort.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of justifies
Noun
  • For Mary Kay, the latter of these rationales seems to have been clothed in the guise of the former, though the precise catalyst for establishing her own outfit remains indeterminate.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
  • Americans heard much more forthright rationales from generals involved in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
    — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Definition of rationales
Noun
  • But in a world where a few basis points separates legends from washouts, a 10-point edge is an enormous windfall for anyone who trusted Kalshi’s numbers over those crunched by CME, the giant futures-exchange operator.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The two subsequent washouts have given Sri Lanka a 1-0 series victory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 June 2026
Definition of washouts
Verb
  • But Hannah, who sees his true good nature, forgives him.
    — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 22 May 2026
  • While The Pitt forgives and empathizes with Robby’s flaws, Robby is not called on to extend that empathy to others.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of forgives
Verb
  • For me, the larger question is not whether artistic behavior excuses transgression, but how to hold artistic achievement and ethical accountability together without allowing one to erase the other.
    — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, some attack our business's fees, as though changing the subject somehow excuses copying another company's intellectual property.
    — Brian Taylor, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of excuses
Noun
  • Echoing Turkey’s justifications for its contentious S-400 acquisition completed the year before, which led a ban from the F-35 program and CAATSA sanctions slapped on Ankara, Iraqi officials claimed America offered no viable alternative.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • And in many cases, the same justifications elucidated by Douglass remain.
    — Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
Definition of justifications
Noun
  • Riley Bell, Senior, Crowley Bell earned District 3-6A Goalkeeper of the Year and TASCO First Team All Region honors, recording 207 saves and five shutouts on the season, including 125 saves and one shutout in district play alone.
    — Charles Baggarly May 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Definition of shutouts

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Cite this Entry

“Whitewashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewashes. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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