WHITENING Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

whitening

verb

Definition of whitening

present participle of whiten

as in bleaching

to make white or whiter by removing color years of sunlight had almost completely whitened the flag

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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 whitening There’s nothing wrong with adding a filter and whitening your teeth with a click of a button. — Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 The best use of baking soda for stain removal is as a whitening agent to brighten dingy white or light-colored clothes or household goods. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026 Use baking soda to treat stains in your laundry, freshen and soften fabrics, and boost bleach whitening abilities. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 19 June 2026 Baking soda is great for whitening and removing stains, and sometimes nothing is tougher than coffee and tea stains left behind on our favorite ceramic mugs. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 11 May 2026 The rest of their tooth-care regimen includes flossing daily, tongue scraping and using mouthwash as needed, along with the occasional use of whitening strips. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026 The files include jokey exchanges and emails planning visits to Epstein properties, teeth-whitening appointments and shopping trips. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026 Adding teeth whitening toothpaste to your daily brushing routine is an excellent way to address discoloration caused by popular culprits such as coffee, wine and smoking. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 The chemical remains an ingredient in countless products from whitening toothpastes to eyeshadows, although the FDA did ban its inclusion in household soap products in 2016. — David Faris, TheWeek, 12 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitening

Verb

Nolasco said a taper is the favorite haircut these days and there’s also players bleaching their hair blond for the playoffs.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
Justine Skye took this mousy brown look to the next level by bleaching her brows to match.

— Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 22 May 2026

Definition of bleaching

Verb

More than a week after the disaster, search-and-rescue operations remain active, though hopes of finding additional survivors are rapidly fading.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Thousands remain missing more than a week after the twin earthquakes struck Venezuela and hope for finding survivors is fading into and effort to recover remains.

— Greg Dixon, NPR, 2 July 2026

Definition of fading

Browse Nearby Words

whiteness

whitening

whitens

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“Whitening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitening. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of whitening

verb

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