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Definitions

brainwash

[breyn-wosh, -wawsh] / ˈbreɪnˌwɒʃ, -ˌwɔʃ /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“It created a model that proved to local municipalities, to local politicians that these spaces weren’t dangerous places that are going to brainwash your kids or whatever.”

From Seattle Times Oct. 13, 2023

"And they brainwash people to join and they convince them of all of these things, and it's really, really hard to get out of it."

From Salon Dec. 28, 2022

“If we had the power to brainwash kids, we’d have them do their homework.”

From Washington Times Nov. 6, 2022

"He was trying to brainwash me, manipulate me and he still had control of me and I didn't like it," she said.

From BBC Oct. 7, 2021

They made us watch a film, a terrible bit of puritanical brainwash.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

Young people mustn’t watch too many films with violence because it brainwashes and disturbs them.

From The Guardian Nov. 6, 2015

I am not saying the Army brainwashes you.

From Time Magazine Archive

She’s convincingly vacant and content as Zosia, a woman brainwashed by an alien virus.

From Los Angeles Times May 21, 2026

In a totalitarian sci-fi world, a hammer thrown by a young athlete smashes a "Big Brother" figure declaiming to brainwashed citizens from a vast screen.

From Barron's Mar. 29, 2026

Mark Harris realized that his father and Freeman had brainwashed him.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 12, 2026

She said: "Technologies are advancing and becoming more complex and almost controlling. Some people could be brainwashed into thinking some things that are not real."

From BBC Jul. 22, 2025

“Well, that’s good to know! I heard Percy Jackson turned you into a brainwashed scullery maid. What did he rename you...Betty?”

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

"Actually, there's brainwashing here in China too, but it's not as severe," he said.

From Barron's Mar. 29, 2026

"The continuing brainwashing of 'you can only play in this way', up until recently scared the living daylights out of coaches, particularly young coaches," he says.

From BBC Sep. 23, 2025

Rather than brainwashing us, the objective of the totalitarian is to bludgeon us into apathy, resignation and passivity.

From Salon May 24, 2025

O’Neill also explains that psychiatrist Louis Jolyon “Jolly” West, who is known to have ties to the MKUltra project, was conducting research on brainwashing in the Haight-Ashbury area at that time.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 7, 2025

Priming is not, it should be said, like brainwashing.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell




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