whitewashing

verb

Definition of whitewashingnext
present participle of whitewash
1
as in ignoring
to dismiss as of little importance refused to whitewash the governor's chronic disregard for the truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excusing
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

Example 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 whitewashing To freshmen from then to now, whitewashing the rock(s) before the season has tended to create a sense of belonging and ownership. — Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 Japan’s Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum has been accused of whitewashing the country’s wartime past. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 29 July 2026 The overnight removal and replacement of the panels, steps from Independence Hall, sparked outrage from Philadelphia officials and activists who say federal authorities are whitewashing the city’s history of slavery. — Corey Williams, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 Clark accused some board members of whitewashing history after Young amended the curriculum to remove one definition of slavery for third-graders, citing redundancy. — Rachel Royster. Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026 At the same time, textbooks and museums slowly but surely are eliminating or whitewashing the history of slavery. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2026 However, the other signs of whitewashing — multiple, vague but positive reviews — were not present. — Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026 Protect them with shade or by whitewashing the bark. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026 Some view the men's team as complicit in whitewashing the Iranian government's repression and can’t bear to watch the competition. — ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitewashing
  1. ignoring
  2. excusing
  3. forgiving
  4. justifying
  5. overlooking
  6. explaining
Verb
  • Isaac Gonzalez, a traffic safety advocate and founder of Slow Down Sacramento, said roads like Valley Hi Drive were built wide and open, which can lead to drivers ignoring speed limits.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Republicans stripped away key delaying tactics in recent years by ending the filibuster in 2017 and ignoring the Judiciary Committee’s quorum rules in 2020.
    — The Conversation, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignoring
Verb
  • Advertisement Dialogue does not mean abandoning our values, excusing aggression, or accepting injustice.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • This story does not suggest that reconciliation requires forgetting the past or excusing harmful choices.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of excusing
Verb
  • Season one struggled to incorporate all of those elements of Lee without either forgiving or betraying his flaws.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The technique is simple, the result is visible and the cut list is forgiving.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of forgiving
Verb
  • But Lewis said justifying camera movements through human mannerisms and tics also made the drone the episode’s poignant exhale.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The frontier lab’s figures are seen as key to understanding underlying demand for cutting-edge AI models, as well as justifying the huge global spending on tech infrastructure.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of justifying
Verb
  • Around 40% of the building will be accessible without a ticket, with an amphitheater-like atrium designed for talks and performances, a bookshop, a children's art space, and Extra Large, a café with a panoramic terrace overlooking the Seine.
    — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Locals on social media and at the press conference also criticized the governor for overlooking the damage in Milton, which has a population of fewer than 12,000 people.
    — CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of overlooking
Verb
  • The decision was posted on the White House website late in the evening, and the notification noted that the report explaining the decision had been submitted to Congress.
    — Will Weissert, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Kate is once again explaining to Hal something very obvious about his own psyche and routine behavior.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of explaining

Browse Nearby Words

whitewashes
whitewashing
white water
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Cite this Entry

“Whitewashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitewashing. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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