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brainwashing
Brainwashing (noun) means the systematic use of pressure, repetition, or coercion to make someone abandon their beliefs for another set of beliefs. Example: “Former members described the group's brainwashing tactics.”
noun
1
The systematic use of pressure, repetition, or coercion to make someone abandon their beliefs for another set of beliefs.
"Former members described the group's brainwashing tactics."
How to use brainwashing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe process of forcibly reshaping someone's beliefs through psychological pressure.
Common pairings
a victim of brainwashing
political brainwashing
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Word forms
- Plural
- brainwashings
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Former members described the group's _____ tactics.
Etymology
A translation of a Chinese term literally meaning "wash brain," first used in English around 1950.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for brainwashing
hashing
dashing
washing
lashing
bashing
smashing
flashing
crashing
clashing
trashing
slashing
thrashing
See all rhymes for brainwashing →
Frequently asked questions
What does “brainwashing” mean?
The word “brainwashing” means the systematic use of pressure, repetition, or coercion to make someone abandon their beliefs for another set of beliefs. In plain terms, the process of forcibly reshaping someone's beliefs through psychological pressure.
How do you use “brainwashing” in a sentence?
Here is “brainwashing” used in a sentence: “Former members described the group's brainwashing tactics.”
What part of speech is “brainwashing”?
“Brainwashing” is a noun.
Where does the word “brainwashing” come from?
The word “brainwashing” dates back to around 1950 and comes from Chinese. A translation of a Chinese term literally meaning "wash brain," first used in English around 1950.
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