as in to excuse
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
the propaganda film attempts to deodorize the dictator's history of human rights abuses
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deodorize
Use hydrogen peroxide as a pre-wash treatment or booster to deodorize towels and bath mats.
—
Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
However, these newer deodorants marketed as whole-body deodorants often do a good job at deodorizing the areas that create malodorous smells.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
The fresh air from opening windows during drying can also naturally deodorize the mattress.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 15 Feb. 2026
Use a carpet-safe stain remover first, and then deodorize the area.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deodorize
Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
However, these newer deodorants marketed as whole-body deodorants often do a good job at deodorizing the areas that create malodorous smells.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
The fresh air from opening windows during drying can also naturally deodorize the mattress.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 15 Feb. 2026
Use a carpet-safe stain remover first, and then deodorize the area.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deodorize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deodorize
Verb
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And historians can talk about the Versailles treaty causing resentment in Germany, which led to the rise of Nazism in World War II, and that’s fine; that’s not excusing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
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No grievance, no workplace conflict, no personal resentment ever excuses violence.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Using a synesthetic logic all his own, Torres explains why Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson is orange, Catholicism is purple, and navy blue is the nefarious color that secretly runs the world.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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For an overview of small business tax responsibilities, see IRS Publication 583, which explains general filing and recordkeeping requirements.—
Nancy Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Policies were justified not with reference to morality or metaphysics but with citations of white papers.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Conflicts abroad, such as in Iran, that may disrupt domestic oil resources could also be used as an argument to justify the need to drill, Sivas said.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Radiation can also be used to palliate painful bone metastases, as well as chemotherapy.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
1 Oct. 2024
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Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days.—
Longreads,
Longreads,
12 Apr. 2024
Verb
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Our museums are being told to whitewash American history of any unpleasant or inconvenient facts, like the full history of the brutality of slavery.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
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The island’s whitewashed, clifftop village offers romantic views of the Aegean Sea, and a steep, zig-zagging path climbs up the hillside to a church.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That bone-deep exhaustion during perimenopause is easy to explain away.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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At the time, the signs felt easy to explain away.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deodorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deodorize. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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