wash 1 of 2

verb

ˈwȯsh How to pronounce wash (audio)
Definition of washnext
1
as in to bathe
to flow along or against crystal-clear waters gently wash the island's unspoiled beaches

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2
as in to fly
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval the employee's story about missing the bus didn't wash with her manager

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3
as in to splash
to flow in a broken irregular stream soapy water washing down the drain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to wet
to make wet rain washed the countryside for days on end

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to rinse
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse washed the baby's hair

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6
as in to stir
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly she absentmindedly washed her tea by tipping her cup, until the honey was at last mixed in

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wash

2 of 2

noun

as in marsh
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water an invasive species threatening the plants native to the region's washes

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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 wash
Verb
Residents are also being encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly and watch for coughing and eye irritation in people and pets. — Lana Zak, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Food can also become contaminated when handlers fail to wash their hands or properly clean food preparation surfaces and equipment, according to the FDA. — Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
Murphy especially recommends one for fragile, damaged, or curly hair and suggests buying two, so there’s always a backup when one is in the wash. — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 The result is a wash of color that can act as a subtle lip contour on its own or as a base underneath lipstick or gloss. — Sheryl George, Allure, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wash
  1. bathe
  2. fly
  3. splash
  4. wet
  5. rinse
  6. stir
  7. marsh
  8. work
Verb
  • The 45-minute dish is a riff on pasta Alfredo, bathed in a bright sauce that doesn’t require cream or flour, just butter, parmesan and the starchy pasta cooking water.
    — Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Beyond the football field, Brown now needed help with personal tasks, including bathing and dressing.
    — Bella Armstrong, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of bathe
Verb
  • Multiple flying insects throughout entire food service space.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Matthew Golden and Christian Watson can fly, and playing indoors gives them a chance to show it.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • That’s because new data says boomers are splashing their cash on vacations instead of setting it aside for future generations.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Beefy tomato slices splashed with buttermilk dressing and earthy, concentrated tomato vine vinegar.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of splash
Verb
  • One of these chambers contains a disc of fabric that is pre-wetted with water, one contains a foaming agent made up of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sodium bicarbonate (the main component of baking soda), and one contains a drop of eye medication.
    — Ben Coxworth October 23, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Per a guide from Nectr, saliva wets the pouch and releases its ingredients, and how much is actually absorbed depends on the formulation and how the pouch is used.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • If exposure occurs, it is recommended to shower or rinse the affected area.
    — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Because the pigment sits inside the skin instead of on top of it, this isn’t the same as a swipe of freckle pen that rinses off at night.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rinse
Verb
  • Uncover and stir, making sure nothing is stuck to bottom of pot.
    — Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In Namibia’s remote, soul-stirring wilderness—one of the least inhabited places on earth—French hotelier Arnaud Zannier has created a new breed of hotel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • Viewed from the waters of Turner Creek, a serpentine tributary east of Savannah, the dock stretches so far across the marsh that even those with 20-20 vision must squint to see where planking meets terra firma.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Before the healing process was complete, however, Scotty died in what scientists believe was a salty marsh.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of marsh
Verb
  • Technique works well in testing This strategy optimizes both the transport and perovskite layers together, driving efficiency and durability to record levels.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Sanders, who spoke alongside el Sayed in Grand Rapids, said Trump’s attacks on the Democratic candidate were rooted in Islamophobia because Republicans have little to say about the issues affecting working families.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of work

Phrases Containing wash

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was friends with
wash
washed
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Cite this Entry

“Wash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wash. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wash

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