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
Examples 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 whitewash
Prinita Thevarajah, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2024
For Oppenheimer, cinema is a kind of monstrous, multi-faceted beast, one that can whitewash evil or expose it.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024
Paul Tenorio, The Athletic, 19 July 2024
The whirlwind half-century this summer to finish the whitewash against West Indies was a brief reminder of full flight mode.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whitewash 
Verb
In the West, the spiritualities appropriated from the Global South become whitewashed and digestible.
—Prinita Thevarajah, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2024
For Oppenheimer, cinema is a kind of monstrous, multi-faceted beast, one that can whitewash evil or expose it.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024
Noun
This article by the way, feels more like a whitewash, the authors spent more time writing about Argentina's exploits than the fallout and expectations from the racist and homophobic song sang by the Argentine players.
—Paul Tenorio, The Athletic, 19 July 2024
The whirlwind half-century this summer to finish the whitewash against West Indies was a brief reminder of full flight mode.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whitewash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitewash
Verb
-
In the hyperconnected world of 2025, where reviews and social media shape public perception, startups can’t afford to ignore branding.Abdo Riani, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
-
Statistically, Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2007-08 (31 goals in 34 appearances) for Manchester United is hard to ignore, but Gareth Bale’s high point was just much more interesting.The Athletic UK Football Writers, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The Baltimore Ravens excused wide receiver Diontae Johnson from team activities this week.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
-
This isn’t to suggest that Say Nothing should have endorsed or excused the PIRA’s retaliatory actions.Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
SpaceX successfully launched a miniature fleet of communications satellites into orbit in the wee overnight hours in a vindication of sorts after a last-second abort delayed the flight.Tariq Malik, Space.com, 29 Dec. 2024
-
The work provided some vindication to one of the forefathers of coregonine research, Walter Koeltz.Keith Matheny, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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
-
Fans might therefore be forgiven for wondering whether Meet Me at the Lake is in fact on its way to Netflix or not.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
-
After those eye-catching looks, you would be forgiven for not clocking Felicity Jones‘ recent appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of The Brutalist as being the newest example of the red carpet craze.Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
And most of the interior materials, other than the seat upholstery, lack the tactile quality to justify that sticker.Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
-
What Riley will have to determine is whether the highs are consistent enough to justify all the lows that come with Maiava’s game.Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
At first, his conscience bothers him, but Zare’s performance is a wonder of quiet rationalization as Iman gradually decides that going along is better than making waves.Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
-
Seems like a heavy dose of post rationalization S Si B. · 13h 52m ago Pepe treatment by fanbase and management was brutal.Jack Lang, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Yet both of those extended bull cycles featured two 19% S & P 500 setbacks each (in 1990, 1998, 2011 and 2018), barely stopping short of a loss that would’ve punctuated them.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2024
-
Despite an initial setback in November, where the court declined their request, the teams eventually triumphed on appeal.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near whitewash
Cite this Entry
“Whitewash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewash. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share