as in convincing
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 brainwashing
Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
The tests were believed to be part of a super-secret experimentation program, Project MKUltra, which ran from 1953 to 1973 (when the program’s records were destroyed) to identify drugs that could weaken individuals and force confessions through brainwashing and psychological torture.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
In the aftermath, Rogers frees his teammates from prison while Barnes undergoes cryogenic stasis in Wakanda until his brainwashing can be cured.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
Yet, going by the best ethnographic and social-science research, his fear of brainwashing was overblown.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brainwashing
Verb
If brainwashing doesn’t work, defendants can hardly claim it as a defense.
—Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
The tests were believed to be part of a super-secret experimentation program, Project MKUltra, which ran from 1953 to 1973 (when the program’s records were destroyed) to identify drugs that could weaken individuals and force confessions through brainwashing and psychological torture.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
In the aftermath, Rogers frees his teammates from prison while Barnes undergoes cryogenic stasis in Wakanda until his brainwashing can be cured.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
Yet, going by the best ethnographic and social-science research, his fear of brainwashing was overblown.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for brainwashing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashing
Verb
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But convincing risk-averse regulators to approve data-sharing, even anonymized, will be a major hurdle.—
Roomy Khan,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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And Cohere, too, is hoping to win over more than friends — by convincing enterprises, investors, and skeptics alike that ROI, not AGI, is the smarter bet.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mario Jorge Machado, president of the European apparel and textile lobbying group Euratex said the Chinese giant’s low-price model is only made possible by flouting EU environmental and tax rules to externalize costs.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
16 Sep. 2025
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Beyond providing financial stability and resilience, enterprise capital enables nonprofits to invest in proactive legal, communications and lobbying capacity.—
Andrea Levere,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The format grants viewers unprecedented control over programming elements, from influencing contestant challenges involving current events and social issues to deciding elimination outcomes and performance selections.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
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The draft guidance could shape clinical trial designs, labeling considerations and FDA review expectations for future prescription non-opioid analgesics seeking approval for chronic pain indications, potentially influencing investment and development priorities in the pharmaceutical industry.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Claude can’t disentangle her years-ago affair with Mathias from feelings of self-recrimination and guilt, and seesaws between anger and seduction.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
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This is the seduction drawing the ultra rich.—
Lilian Raji,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In a horror movie, the sight of a leg being broken and the bone sticking out might be squirm-inducing but not out of bonds.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
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Skip the sheep-counting and cup of chamomile, and luxuriate in the sleep-inducing blend of calming lavender oil, soothing balsam resin, moisturizing sweet almond oil, and relaxing magnesium salt flakes instead.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Moreover, this should help in bringing accessibility insights and considerations directly to the attention of important decision-makers who may have previously viewed digital accessibility as a side issue or compliance distraction that can solely be addressed by niche vendors.—
Gus Alexiou,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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At least 50,000 reservists are to be called up for the operation, bringing the total troop strength to 120,000.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Large swaths of one floor selling scarves were focused on headscarves, or hijabs.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
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The move has been met with backlash from producers who have in the past used Channel 4 commissions as a bedrock to build their businesses by retaining the IP and selling it around the world.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The garden is satisfying to Ramona.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
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Other tasters agreed these anchovies had a meaty texture, which made each fillet a satisfying several bites.—
Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashing. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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