as in convinces
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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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashes
Verb
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As previously announced, Burr plays a gruff American record-store owner who convinces a ragtag gang of teenage misfits that their best, and possibly only, chance to lose their virginity before graduating high school is at a massive open-air mass for the visiting Pope.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026 -
Alanya, a fitness influencerand Hana’s crush, convinces her to join an intense physical transformation program.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Put a few slices on your tuna salad sandwich, see what the day brings.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
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The former Ohio State linebacker brings versatility and enthusiasm to a Washington defense that struggled in 2025.—
Les Carpenter,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The attack threw into chaos one of Washington’s premier social events, which every year attracts some of the country’s most powerful people and the journalists who cover them.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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Only one national park attracts more.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The group is among the most successful access-broker operations, a class of hackers that smashes and grabs credentials from victims and then sells them to other hackers.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2026
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Here, wander by historic mansions, stop at local cafes, and browse hip boutiques like Esencia Maya, a family run business that sells high-end fashions inspired by the Mayan culture.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Borage An annual herb with bright bluish-purple flowers, borage entices important insects to the garden.—
Lauren David,
Martha Stewart,
24 Apr. 2026
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Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The magnet induces the magnetic flux change needed to initiate the plasma and maintain the plasma current during the burn time.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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Many of the aforementioned artists have stayed, and something about the island induces curious projects.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The team suggests that photochemistry and photophysics — chemistry and physics driven by light emissions — likely influences how those environments are shaped, but understanding just how will require more study.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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This one narrow passage influences fuel prices, insurance costs, shipping schedules, inflation expectations, and diplomatic posture across multiple continents.—
Tenzin Seldon,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Brainwashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashes. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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