as in to bleach
to make white or whiter by removing color
years of sunlight had almost completely whitened the flag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whiten
The files include jokey exchanges and emails planning visits to Epstein properties, teeth-whitening appointments and shopping trips.
—
Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Mondelez has Forever Oreos, and Colgate has a product that can whiten teeth in a week.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
The files include jokey exchanges and emails planning visits to Epstein properties, teeth-whitening appointments and shopping trips.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Over a period of about 10 years, London had more than 30 procedures, including several nose jobs, eyelid surgeries, brow and temple lifts and whitening skin injections, spending in excess of $200,000.
—Amanda Montell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Mondelez has Forever Oreos, and Colgate has a product that can whiten teeth in a week.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
The files include jokey exchanges and emails planning visits to Epstein properties, teeth-whitening appointments and shopping trips.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Over a period of about 10 years, London had more than 30 procedures, including several nose jobs, eyelid surgeries, brow and temple lifts and whitening skin injections, spending in excess of $200,000.
—Amanda Montell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whiten
Verb
-
Unicharm could already turn these materials into other hygienic products like toilet paper, but a new ozone treatment designed to bleach, sterilize, and deodorize the pulp is widening the possibilities even further.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The feat, coupled with her easygoing personality and signature bleached halo hair, launched her to global fame.—
Zara Irshad,
San Francisco Chronicle,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The leader of the Ex-Slave Pension Association was later imprisoned on mail fraud charges, and the organization faded away, while the Eagles became one of the pressure groups that eventually led to Social Security.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Pensions faded, and a new system of 401(k) retirement savings rewarded Americans for working longer.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Creative expression takes the spotlight as the Full Moon brightens your 5th House of Play, encouraging you to share a joke or finish a sketch.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
July 23 – August 22 Your words can truly brighten someone’s day.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whiten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whiten. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
