Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense brainwashes, present participle brainwashing, past tense, past participle brainwashed
verb
If you brainwash someone, you force them to believe something by continually telling them that it is true, and preventing them from thinking about it properly.
They brainwash people into giving up all their money. [VERB noun + into]
I'd been brainwashed into believing I was worthless. [V n into -ing]
We were brainwashed to believe we were all equal. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: indoctrinate, condition, drill, pressurize More Synonyms of brainwash
brainwash in British English
(ˈbreɪnˌwɒʃ)
verb
(transitive)
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
Derived forms
brainwasher (ˈbrainˌwasher)
noun
brainwashing (ˈbrainˌwashing)
noun
brainwash in American English
(ˈbreɪnˌwɔʃ)
verb transitive US
Informal
to indoctrinate so intensively and thoroughly as to effect a radical transformation of beliefs and mental attitudes
Examples of 'brainwash' in a sentence
brainwash
This tends to dispel any worries subjects may still be harbouring about being "brainwashed".
Austin, Valerie Self-Hypnosis (1994)
It is a worrying example of how easily brainwashed young people can be.
The Sun (2015)
In fact production had soared and construction had doubled but his opponents had brainwashed the people with false facts.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Young women should have role models who aren't constantly on diets and brainwashed about fitting into tiny clothes.
The Sun (2013)
They brainwashed the people - obviously.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
brainwash
British English: brainwash VERB
If you brainwash someone, you force them to believe something by continually telling them that it is true, and preventing them from thinking about it properly.
They brainwash people into giving up all their money.
American English: brainwash
Brazilian Portuguese: fazer uma lavagem cerebral em
Chinese: 给…洗脑
European Spanish: lavar el cerebro a
French: faire subir un lavage de cerveau à
German: einer Gehirnwäsche unterziehen
Italian: fare il lavaggio del cervello a
Japanese: 洗脳する
Korean: 세뇌하다
European Portuguese: fazer uma lavagem ao cérebro em
Latin American Spanish: lavar el cerebro a
Chinese translation of 'brainwash'
brainwash
(ˈbreɪnwɔʃ)
vt
给(給) ... 洗脑(腦) (gěi ... xǐnǎo)
(verb)
Definition
to cause (a person) to alter his or her beliefs, by methods based on isolation, sleeplessness, etc.
We were brainwashed to believe we were all equal.
Synonyms
indoctrinate
They have been completely indoctrinated.
condition
drill
These were lessons drilled into him by his Grandpa.
pressurize
re-educate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of drill
These were lessons drilled into him by his Grandpa.