as in fading
to make white or whiter by removing color
bleached the stained shirt back to its original white
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Recent Examples of bleaching
She was also reportedly seen bleaching the inside of her car.
—
Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Once in a while, black flats compress the space, framing a single character’s face, bathed in a bleaching white light, as if their vulnerabilities were being scanned by an MRI.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
The figure skater actually began bleaching her own hair with a paintbrush—and only brought in a professional right before the 2026 Winter Olympics.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026
Fierce sunlight bleaching the stones of the old city, blinding the passengers as porters in white kaffiyehs and djellabas stack their portmanteaus on donkey carts.
—Literary Hub, 16 Feb. 2026
His inability to recognize the oxymoron makes Cole’s introspection on this topic feel less like a genuine reckoning and more like a feeble attempt at bleaching out the darkest stains of his career.
—Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026
For White, Bleach-Safe Clothing Gagliardi says to always avoid bleaching clothing made from materials like wool, silk, mohair, leather, and spandex—even if the item is white.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Some dishwasher tablets include bleaching agents and rinse aids that can keep your clothes from cleaning properly or even stain them.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025
More than that, the YouTuber decided to rid her face of eyebrows, bleaching the hairs above her eyes to match the hue of her hair.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Once in a while, black flats compress the space, framing a single character’s face, bathed in a bleaching white light, as if their vulnerabilities were being scanned by an MRI.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
The figure skater actually began bleaching her own hair with a paintbrush—and only brought in a professional right before the 2026 Winter Olympics.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026
Fierce sunlight bleaching the stones of the old city, blinding the passengers as porters in white kaffiyehs and djellabas stack their portmanteaus on donkey carts.
—Literary Hub, 16 Feb. 2026
His inability to recognize the oxymoron makes Cole’s introspection on this topic feel less like a genuine reckoning and more like a feeble attempt at bleaching out the darkest stains of his career.
—Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026
For White, Bleach-Safe Clothing Gagliardi says to always avoid bleaching clothing made from materials like wool, silk, mohair, leather, and spandex—even if the item is white.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Some dishwasher tablets include bleaching agents and rinse aids that can keep your clothes from cleaning properly or even stain them.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025
More than that, the YouTuber decided to rid her face of eyebrows, bleaching the hairs above her eyes to match the hue of her hair.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleaching
Verb
-
By now, however, that view is fading.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Taj Mahal kept fading and ultimately finished 10th.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The afternoon was brightening, the sun preparing to come through.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
-
Blurring pores and fine lines is desirable, but this primer has color-correcting properties that take it one step further — covering redness, brightening dark undereyes, and creating an overall healthy-looking complexion.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Baking soda is great for whitening and removing stains, and sometimes nothing is tougher than coffee and tea stains left behind on our favorite ceramic mugs.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
11 May 2026
-
What’s the best teeth whitening toothpaste to buy?—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bleaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleaching. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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