brainwashing
noun
brain·wash·ing
| \ ˈbrān-ˌwȯ-shiŋ
, -ˌwä-\
, -ˌwä-\
Definition of brainwashing
1
: a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas
2
: persuasion by propaganda or salesmanship
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from brainwashing
brainwash
\ ˈbrān-ˌwȯsh
, -ˌwäsh \
transitive verb
, -ˌwäsh \
transitive verb
brainwash
noun
brainwasher
noun
Examples of brainwashing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mantras then are a kind of healthy, self-imposed brainwashing that puts the brain in a calm state. — Ephrat Livni, Quartzy, "Use these mantras to start, power through, and finish your day," 10 Aug. 2019 It’s my personal brainwashing technique—efficient, effective, and free. — Ephrat Livni, Quartzy, "Use these mantras to start, power through, and finish your day," 10 Aug. 2019 All countries have cults, and being well schooled is no protection against brainwashing. — The Economist, "On the hanging of Shoko Asahara, Japan’s nerve-gas guru," 12 July 2018 The wives expect completely unnatural emotional reactions from the handmaids, and even Aunt Lydia’s brutal brainwashing isn’t enough to put the handmaids’ brains in line with the wives’ expectations. — Rena Gross, Billboard, "14 Significant Moments From 'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 2, Episode 10 'The Last Ceremony'," 20 June 2018 Their brainwashing process, according to students of the matter, severs individuals’ connections to outside supports like family and friends. — Win Mccormack, The New Republic, "A Mind’s Eye View of 1984," 12 Apr. 2018 Culber also mentions that there are new ways to do brainwashing in which one identity is overlaid on top of another identity. — Annalee Newitz, Ars Technica, "Star Trek: Discovery is back and things are seriously #$%!&!," 9 Jan. 2018 In The Force Awakens, Finn is a First Order stormtrooper who breaks free of his brainwashing and gets swept up in the Resistance’s efforts almost by accident. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "The Last Jedi's Biggest Storytelling Innovation," 18 Dec. 2017 The search resulted not in a miraculous new weapon but a program of simulated brainwashing designed as a prophylactic against enemy mistreatment. — Lorraine Boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The True Story of Brainwashing and How It Shaped America," 22 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'brainwashing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for brainwashing
brainwashing
noun
brain·wash·ing
| \ ˈbrān-ˌwȯsh-iŋ, -ˌwäsh-
\
\
Medical Definition of brainwashing
: a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas
Keep scrolling for more