washed-out

[wosht-out, wawsht-]

adjective

1. faded, especially from washing.

2. Informal.

   1. weary; exhausted.

   2. tired-looking; wan.

washed out

adjective

1. faded or colourless

2. exhausted, esp when being pale in appearance

Word History and Origins

Origin of washed-out¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Idioms and Phrases

Faded in color; also, lacking animation. For example, This carpet is all washed out from the sun, or He looks all washed out. [Late 1700s; early 1800s] Also see wash out, def. 3.

Example Sentences

In Jamaica, the impact was most severe in the southwestern parish of St Elizabeth, where knee-deep mud and washed-out bridges left towns such as Black River cut off.

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It’s funny how just the grainy, washed-out look of videotape can conjure so much melancholy.

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The perfect examples are the viral photos from the pop star’s own birthday: washed-out candids of tongues out, cigarette bouquets and sweaty bodies en masse.

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They were given the chance of redemption at the T20 World Cup, only to be put on the brink of elimination by a washed-out match against Scotland and a heavy defeat by Australia.

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Segments of major highways are closed due to landslides, washed-out roads and collapsed bridges.

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