as in to convince
to cause (someone) to think or believe something by using methods that make a person unable to think normally
Terrorists brainwashed the prisoners. Does advertising brainwash children?
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Recent Examples of brainwash
Why not live in Hank’s sick decision to brainwash his daughter into loving him?
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
Landfair claimed that she was brainwashed by Kelly.
—Katherine Lam, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
The lyrics went beyond Evers’ white-supremacist killer, indicting an entire system that brainwashed poor white Southerners into hatred.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
In very One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fashion, good ol’ American capitalists were brainwashed into embracing Red communism.
—Jack King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
She was completely brainwashed by Raniere, and became part of a harem of women who serviced his every need.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Her home, District 12, has been destroyed and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) has been brainwashed by President Snow.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2025
There, Evelyn uses psychedelic drugs and psychological manipulation to brainwash them into joining the local community, which is, in fact, just a commune of Evelyn’s cultists.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
California high school senior Hadeel Hazameh believes she was brainwashed.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
Landfair claimed that she was brainwashed by Kelly.
—Katherine Lam, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
The lyrics went beyond Evers’ white-supremacist killer, indicting an entire system that brainwashed poor white Southerners into hatred.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
In very One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fashion, good ol’ American capitalists were brainwashed into embracing Red communism.
—Jack King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
She was completely brainwashed by Raniere, and became part of a harem of women who serviced his every need.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Her home, District 12, has been destroyed and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) has been brainwashed by President Snow.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Oct. 2025
There, Evelyn uses psychedelic drugs and psychological manipulation to brainwash them into joining the local community, which is, in fact, just a commune of Evelyn’s cultists.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
California high school senior Hadeel Hazameh believes she was brainwashed.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwash
Verb
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An undisclosed amount of funds had disappeared, and the unidentified brother was convinced McBride took it, the report read.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2026
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The report warned that Americans should be extremely suspicious of people on the internet trying to convince them to apply for HELOCs.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But multiple Democratic senators said that's not enough to persuade them to back off their demands.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Renato Renner of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich is not persuaded that resolving the conflict between the Copenhagen and many-worlds interpretations solves all the problems.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At the office, constantly gushing about your spouse or new romantic interest can be cringe-inducing for your coworkers.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Authorities said the indictment alleges that Richard Murray, 31, and others, used a sweepstakes scheme to induce the primarily elderly victims to provide them with money, a scheme taking place since at least 2018.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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McCarthy warned that being too quick to bring untested criminal cases against political adversaries risks damaging institutional legitimacy regardless of which party is in power.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
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The government brought forward major reforms and bans on assault-style weapons after the country suffered its worst-ever shooting attack in 2020, when a man impersonating a police officer killed 22 people in northern Nova Scotia.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Clegg said judges got creative to attract attorneys.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Articles supporting the city’s democracy movement, including antigovernment protests that rocked the city in 2019, attracted many pro-democracy readers.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Eric Patrick, 31, pleaded guilty in an Orlando courtroom to attempting to entice a 15-year-old, whom Patrick and his husband, Richard Kowalczyk, met on Grindr, a dating app for gay men, according to Patrick’s plea agreement.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
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Part of what makes Joomra Pillow Slippers enticing is their waterproof design.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While Hadari is rebranding as YH Studios, his creative voice remains unchanged, clearly influenced by Browne in his fusion of the sartorial with the slightly psychotic.—
Ari Stark,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
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OpenAI underlined that the ads won’t influence ChatGPT’s answers and will be separate and clearly labeled.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number (SSN), phone number, and email address, and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Coco frio, also known as fresh coconut water, is a refreshment commonly sold by street vendors on the island.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brainwash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwash. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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