BRAINWASH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does brainwash mean? 

• BRAINWASH (verb)
  The verb BRAINWASH has 2 senses:

1. persuade completely, often through coercion

2. submit to brainwashing; indoctrinate forcibly

  Familiarity information: BRAINWASH used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BRAINWASH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they brainwash    ... he / she / it brainwashes   
Past simple: brainwashed   
Past participle: brainwashed   
-ing form: brainwashing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Persuade completely, often through coercion

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The propaganda brainwashed many people

Hypernyms (to "brainwash" is one way to...):

persuade (cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They brainwash him to write the letter

Sense 2

Meaning:

Submit to brainwashing; indoctrinate forcibly

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "brainwash" is one way to...):

indoctrinate (teach doctrines to; teach uncritically)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody