Synonyms of whitewashing

whitewashing

verb

present participle of whitewash

1

as in ignoring

to dismiss as of little importance

refused to whitewash the governor's chronic disregard for the truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ignoring
• forgiving
• overlooking
• justifying
• explaining
• pardoning
• disregarding
• excusing
• condoning
• discounting
• brushing (aside or off)
• passing over
• remitting
• winking (at)
• blinking (at)
• glossing (over)
• shrugging off
• papering over
• forgiving and forgetting
• rationalizing
• overpassing
• exonerating
• glozing (over)
• exculpating
• vindicating
• absolving
• closing one's eyes to
• acquitting
• waiving
• waving (aside or off)
• clearing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• marking
• noting
• objecting (to)
• heeding
• minding

2

as in excusing

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

• excusing
• justifying
• explaining
• palliating
• extenuating
• deodorizing
• glossing (over)
• minimizing
• explaining away
• apologizing
• confessing
• varnishing
• atoning
• sugarcoating
• glozing (over)
• rationalizing
• softening
• mitigating
• alleviating
• tempering
• exonerating
• accounting (for)
• lightening
• moderating
• exculpating
• vindicating
• absolving
• soft-pedaling
• lessening
• acquitting
• playing down
• easing
• clearing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of whitewashing

From the whitewashing controversy to the toxic love to the daring costumes, the discourse is going to be discoursing. —Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 13 Feb. 2026

After a public outcry over complaints of whitewashing, A’zion swiftly exited the movie. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 10 Feb. 2026

Odessa A'zion is dropping out of a film project just two days after her involvement was announced, citing a whitewashing controversy that took over social media. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026

But there’s no whitewashing its flaws. —Rebeccah Heinrichs, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025