1
as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance
refused to whitewash the governor's chronic disregard for the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to excuse
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
don't try to whitewash your rudeness by claiming that you were having a bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in vindication
Related Words
2
as in washout
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of whitewash
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Sterilized, whitewashed, controlled, censored – all those words apply.
—Jim Axelrod, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Reuters, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
The key to the snowiest of days is a good pair of boots—and why not match your sunglasses to your red footwear for a flash of color in a whitewash?
—Gena Kaufman, InStyle, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whitewash
Verb
The island’s whitewashed, clifftop village offers romantic views of the Aegean Sea, and a steep, zig-zagging path climbs up the hillside to a church.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Sterilized, whitewashed, controlled, censored – all those words apply.
—Jim Axelrod, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
More recently, in November and December, the U.S. completed a commanding whitewash in the four-match Rivalry Series, outscoring their opponents 24-7, including a 10-4 victory.
—Reuters, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
The key to the snowiest of days is a good pair of boots—and why not match your sunglasses to your red footwear for a flash of color in a whitewash?
—Gena Kaufman, InStyle, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whitewash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitewash
Verb
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The federal judge in that case ruled that a jury could find that State Farm had acted in bad faith if the plaintiffs' lawyers demonstrated that the company ignored certain kinds of hail damage.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In crush, puncture, and saw tests, the battery produced no smoke or flames – a safety profile that's hard to ignore.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 28,
New Atlas,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But don’t excuse Montgomery Steppe or Aguirre.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing, excusing the allegations as an accounting error.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Vinyl vindication The event comes as spending on vinyl continues to climb, even as streaming has become the dominant format for music listening.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
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As such, the museum serves as a space of historical vindication for an artist who struggled, rock hammer in hand, against mountainous odds.—
Tyehimba Jess,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While the weekend isn't looking like a washout, a few rounds of showers are likely across the state.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
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On the other hand, cool‑season sod farmers usually grow Kentucky bluegrass, which germinates slowly compared to other turfgrass species, increasing the risk of washouts.—
Ryan Bearss,
The Conversation,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From the outside, the enormous former glove factory still resembles a warehouse, and from the store’s towering façade alone, first timers would be forgiven for thinking there’s no way the entire interior could be filled with books.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
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In the Catholic tradition, a bad action doesn’t make someone a bad person; good people can sin and be forgiven.—
Elias Wachtel,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So far, that skepticism has appeared justified.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
This seeming deference to executive interests is particularly difficult to justify in an administration willing to flout court orders.—
Gregg Nunziata,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Although the Mughals mainly incorporated the existing Indian revenue system, Akbar’s reign also saw the rationalization of revenue administration, notably under the Hindu minister Todar Mal, with systematic land measurement and assessment that balanced imperial income with agrarian stability.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 Apr. 2026
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Two at-odds facts can both be true, and all of us are susceptible to arrogance and self-serving rationalization.—
Carol Quillen,
Time,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Miami-Dade commissioners on Thursday handed Kelly Tractor another setback in the company’s fight to win Miami-Dade approval to build a headquarters outside the county’s development zone.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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But noise, as well as glare, are typically buffered with vegetative landscaping and setbacks, or the distance between the property line and the nearest structure.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whitewash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewash. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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