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
-
Scout seems insightful, based on its response to a question posed by The Associated Press about why one of Silicon Valley's brightest stars faded away a decade ago.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
This year's Oscars may be in the rearview mirror, but for one Detroit designer, the spotlight hasn't faded.—
Lauren Winfrey,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
