as in bleaching
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 whitening
That means everything from teeth whitening to fillings and full smile makeovers.
—
Yola Robert, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Bleach is a whitening agent and an important disinfectant but doesn't work to unclog drains.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024
Plus, score savings on best-selling teeth whitening strips.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Teeth whitening gadgets like the Colgate Whitening Pen are super helpful to give yourself a sparkling smile just in time for the holiday season!
—Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for whitening
Yola Robert, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Bleach is a whitening agent and an important disinfectant but doesn't work to unclog drains.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024
Plus, score savings on best-selling teeth whitening strips.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Teeth whitening gadgets like the Colgate Whitening Pen are super helpful to give yourself a sparkling smile just in time for the holiday season!
—Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for whitening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitening
Verb
-
For example, coral reefs are bleaching more often and dying due to ocean warming and acidification, undermining fisheries, marine biodiversity and economic sectors such as tourism.—
Lauren Gifford,
Space.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
The pic also showed off Jennifer Aniston’s money piece highlights, the face-framing way to give yourself a bit of a blonde glow without bleaching your whole head, sort of the way a ring light illuminates you from the front.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But with its novelty fading and political scrutiny mounting, its long-term future in America is far from secure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The sturdy plastic housings resist fading and cracking and are brown in color to blend with most outdoor surfaces.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whitening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitening. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share