brainwash

American  

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

Or brain-wash,

verb (used with object)

1. to cause (someone) to undergo brainwashing.

---

noun

1. the process of brainwashing.

2. a subjection to brainwashing.

brainwash British  

/ ˈbreɪnˌwɒʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to effect a radical change in the ideas and beliefs of (a person), esp by methods based on isolation, sleeplessness, hunger, extreme discomfort, pain, and the alternation of kindness and cruelty

---

Other Word Forms

• brainwasher noun
• brainwashing noun

Etymology

Origin of brainwash

First recorded in 1950–55; back formation from brainwashing

Example Sentences

“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

Anyway, I think Mr. Neely has managed to brainwash me with his hashtags and experiments, because I kept thinking about the scientific process during therapy.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Related Words

• educate
• indoctrinate