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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in washout
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whitewash
Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Jan. 2025
India were whitewashed by the unassuming but expert Kiwis at home to end 12 years of domestic domination.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024
Back before the infamous 2018 cheating scandal, the macho Australian team would puff their chests out and proclaim series whitewashes among other boasts.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whitewash 
Verb
The late 13th century paintings were whitewashed following a mid 15th-century fire at the cathedral and subsequently boxed behind woodwork by 1786, which protected them from iconoclasts and vandalization during the French Revolution.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Jan. 2025
India were whitewashed by the unassuming but expert Kiwis at home to end 12 years of domestic domination.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
The whitewash that the government has done is so detrimental to the people who were here long before the white man.
—Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024
Back before the infamous 2018 cheating scandal, the macho Australian team would puff their chests out and proclaim series whitewashes among other boasts.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whitewash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitewash
Verb
-
Hylton-Brown ignored Sutton’s attempt to stop him and drove off.—
Janelle Griffith,
NBC News,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Except a funny thing happened when the Chiefs dialed up the call in overtime: The 49ers basically ignored Hardman.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Taake isn’t the only Jan. 6 figure to find trouble waiting after being excused for actions on Jan. 6.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
28 Jan. 2025
-
At best, these pardons excuse the violence that took place on January 6, and at worst, encourage that kind of violence in the future by essentially promising would-be insurrectionists forgiveness.—
Vox Staff,
Vox,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s many personal grievances—and his obvious delight in the vindication that his victory represents—are what made this Inauguration so different from any of its predecessors, including his first one, eight years ago.—
Susan B. Glasser,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Peace confines violence to self-defense in vindication of the right of self-preservation.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
An east wind will maintain a higher risk of rip currents along the coast, but overall, the holiday period will not see a washout.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
-
On six of those instances, the games were postponed on back-to-back days, including a stretch of three consecutive days of washouts.—
Chris Kirschner,
The Athletic,
22 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But considering how integral he’s become to the cultural fabric, you could be forgiven for thinking he’s been ingrained in the hip-hop internet landscape forever.—
Damien Scott,
Billboard,
27 Jan. 2025
-
The elastic waistband is forgiving, which makes this pair easy to slip on and replaces the typical drawstring closure.—
Alyssa Brascia,
People.com,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Then there’s the ruling’s decision that national security could justify potential speech suppression.—
Lauren Feiner,
The Verge,
24 Jan. 2025
-
That’s a pretty big gap and would require an equally large difference in their per-minute play to justify putting Hunter first.—
John Hollinger,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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As with the internet in the early 2000s, the hype might give way to a phase of rationalization, where only the most resilient and innovative players survive.—
Abdo Riani,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Politicians can always find a rationalization to spend taxpayer money on an unending list of needy programs coupled with a self-congratulatory press release.—
Len Fasano,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Firstly, the company faced significant setbacks in its clinical trials, particularly with its rheumatoid arthritis drug, filgotinib, which failed to gain FDA approval.—
Joe Cornell,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Comets fall 7-4 to San Diego The Comets suffered a setback last week, losing 7-4 against the San Diego Sockers on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.—
Nathan Dunn,
Kansas City Star,
20 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near whitewash
Cite this Entry
“Whitewash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewash. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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