1
as in ignores
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 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
1
as in rationalizations
Related Words
2
as in washouts
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whitewashes
Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Verb
-
In episode six, Max and Holly find the memory that Henry has been hiding from, and while Max kind of ignores it, Holly hangs back and watches how Henry is affected by having killed that man.—
Derek Lawrence,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Jan. 2026
-
That demand ignores long-standing practice, misunderstands the Bears’ legal obligations and risks undermining one of Illinois’ most important economic assets.—
Don DeWitte,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Satisfy gets a lot of flack for its prices, but this running jacket justifies the price tag thanks to its effective modularity and (extremely) lightweight design.—
Will Porter,
Outside,
4 Jan. 2026
-
While there are legitimate concerns throughout the Midwest about future reliability due to new data centers and their substantial power consumption, there is no looming emergency that justifies the administration’s action here.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Expectations going up after two straight Playoff washouts.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
-
In optimal conditions, most vehicles can make it, but high clearance is strongly recommended—especially in winter and after storms, when washouts, flooding, or snow accumulation are possible.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The bottom line There is no federal program that directly forgives or restructures credit card debt, but that doesn't mean borrowers are stuck.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Sinnott forgives his parents, and parents today who waver on vaccination.—
Arthur Allen,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There may have been grains of truth in his complaints—Denmark’s neglect of the island, America’s long-standing interest in acquiring it, the implications of new sea lanes as its ice melts, the rising importance of security in the Arctic—but nothing excuses Trump’s behavior or language.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Nick excuses the killing of Renee Good for blocking traffic, but the videos clearly show that traffic was going around her.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Each of the 280 swim-up suites overlooks the sea, while special themed suites intersect luxury and whimsy.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Afterward, retreat to the nearby Casa Palmero, The Inn at Spanish Bay or The Lodge at Pebble Beach, which overlooks the dramatic 18th green at Pebble Beach Golf Links, arguably golf’s greatest finishing hole.—
Katie Sweeney,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tyler Stimmel, an agent in Music Brand Partnerships, further explains that when mega-events are so close together, brands can own a moment in culture rather than just a single event.—
Charles Taylor,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Lior Torenberg explains what sets the Sad Girl Grifter (SGG) apart from her lying, scheming peers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the days since the raid, the White House has offered a mess of contradictory plans and rationales.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has not highlighted human rights and democracy as rationales for capturing Maduro.—
Shelley Inglis,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whitewashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewashes. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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