as in failing
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in collapsing
to be unsuccessful
most of the participants in the tough training program washed out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bleaching
to make white or whiter by removing color
the bright lights of the TV studio washed out her facial features, making her look as white as a ghost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wearing
to use up all the physical energy of
that last illness washed the child out completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rinsing
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
wash out your bathing suit in the sink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of washing-out
Tammy Webber,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Then came this spring's historic and devastating floods across northern Michigan — in some areas, for the first time anyone can remember — swamping homes, pushing dams to the brink of failure and washing out roadways.
—
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The heavy rain, fueled in part by the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, drenched much of the Southeast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle, causing flash flood emergencies, washing out roads, and prompting emergency rescues.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
In 1987, the Guadalupe surged near Comfort, washing out a bus and killing 10 teenagers on board.
—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
The Best Way To Dry A Swimsuit After washing out sunscreen, salt, chlorine, and body soil from your swimsuit (handwashing is best), rinse it thoroughly in cool water.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Tiny water droplets can scatter light, washing out the vivid reds and oranges.
—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
That's it—no waiting and washing out required.
—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Helene caused catastrophic damage across western North Carolina, washing out roads including stretches of Interstate 40 that collapsed into the Pigeon River Gorge, damaging bridges and isolating entire communities.
—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Then came this spring’s historic and devastating floods across northern Michigan — in some areas, for the first time anyone can remember — swamping homes, pushing dams to the brink of failure and washing out roadways.
—
Tammy Webber,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Then came this spring's historic and devastating floods across northern Michigan — in some areas, for the first time anyone can remember — swamping homes, pushing dams to the brink of failure and washing out roadways.
—
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The heavy rain, fueled in part by the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, drenched much of the Southeast from Texas to the Florida Panhandle, causing flash flood emergencies, washing out roads, and prompting emergency rescues.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
In 1987, the Guadalupe surged near Comfort, washing out a bus and killing 10 teenagers on board.
—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
The Best Way To Dry A Swimsuit After washing out sunscreen, salt, chlorine, and body soil from your swimsuit (handwashing is best), rinse it thoroughly in cool water.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Tiny water droplets can scatter light, washing out the vivid reds and oranges.
—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
That's it—no waiting and washing out required.
—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Helene caused catastrophic damage across western North Carolina, washing out roads including stretches of Interstate 40 that collapsed into the Pigeon River Gorge, damaging bridges and isolating entire communities.
—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washing-out
Adjective
-
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
Verb
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The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.
-
Unlike straw or lower-grade wool blends, beaver felt can be reworked without collapsing its structure, which is what allows hats to be reshaped by hand rather than stamped out of a mold.
Verb
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Nolasco said a taper is the favorite haircut these days and there’s also players bleaching their hair blond for the playoffs.
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Justine Skye took this mousy brown look to the next level by bleaching her brows to match.
Verb
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Doctors Without Borders health workers wearing personal protective equipment move through the isolated red zone to monitor patients, provide medical care and ensure sanitation at the Ebola Treatment Center in Munigi in Congo on June 2, 2026.
-
Rodríguez Castro can be seen wearing a New York Yankees shirt, moving suggestively to driving percussive beats, punctuated by catchy, syncopated vocals.
Verb
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Carve Out an Outdoor Shower For rinsing off after a day at the nearby beach, Wood installed an outdoor shower.
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This can be done by rinsing or wiping the board with a dishcloth or paper towel.
Adjective
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These are challenges that supposedly don't hit a flat, non-folding display anywhere near as hard.
-
Scroll on for more Walmart patio picks, including a folding Adirondack chair under $100, a resort-style pergola, and a classic steel garden bench available in over a dozen colors.
Verb
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White Sox starter Davis Martin gave up two runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings without striking out a batter.
-
Matthews responded by retiring Tommy Edman for the first time in three at-bats and striking out backup catcher Chuckie Robinson.
Verb
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More than a week after the disaster, search-and-rescue operations remain active, though hopes of finding additional survivors are rapidly fading.
-
Thousands remain missing more than a week after the twin earthquakes struck Venezuela and hope for finding survivors is fading into and effort to recover remains.
Cite this Entry
“Washing-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washing-out. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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