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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Store Fresh Produce and Salads in Jars Speaking of prepping produce, Costello always makes sure to wash and cut up fresh fruit and veggies for meals and snacking. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Aug. 2026 Wash Separately In Warm Water Towels should be washed separately from other clothing and always in warm water. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
The wash station, cure station, resin storage, gloves, eye protection, ventilation, and post-processing supplies all require a lot of space in your workshop. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026 Holmes’ jeans also took things to a more polished space thanks to the dark wash and subtle distressing similar to Quince’s subtle barrel style that can be easily dressed up with pumps, just like the actress. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 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
  • On the album cover, Karol appears almost makeup-free and bathed in a cool blue hue—giving the image a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of Britney Spears 2003 album, In The Zone.
    — Thalía Henao, Allure, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Each floor will have two neighborhoods, where staff will prepare meals for residents and assist residents with their daily needs, such as bathing and getting dressed.
    — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of bathe
Verb
  • So a new grant, under the early-stage NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, aims to create small, flying vehicles that could explore those caves.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • When not searching for glass floats, enjoy other pastimes like tide pooling, beachcombing, and kite flying (home to two kite festivals, Lincoln City calls itself the Kite Capital of the World).
    — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • Antonio Banderas' house—with the dune in the background, where Tony gets splashed with water every morning—was only a mile from my house.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The spacecraft splashed down in the Indian Ocean intact after flying halfway around the world from SpaceX’s launch base in South Texas.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of splash
Verb
  • Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • Lightly sand the handles of a pair of wood or bamboo salad servers, then rinse and dry them.
    — Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Although invisible, the bacteria from your cleaning rag (for instance) can easily transfer to other surfaces, even after rinsing.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of rinse
Verb
  • Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is tender, 7 to 9 minutes.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2026
  • High inflation and a currency crash triggered widespread protests that led to a brutal crackdown in January, and some officials in Tehran are concerned today’s economic woes could stir more unrest.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • North American river otters live in rivers, lakes, streams, marshes and on seacoasts, according to the conservation group River Otter Ecology Project.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The land features rich biological diversity such as marshes, mudflats and riparian and coastal sage scrub, including sensitive, threatened or endangered species such as the California gnatcatcher and the fairy shrimp.
    — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of marsh
Verb
  • After working around the clock for the better part of a week toward an interim bilateral trade deal, trade officials from the United States and Canada may have reached a consensus that will stave off a fresh round of punishing tariffs.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In a country where current and former governors command massive grassroots support and are often accused of working with local electoral officials to manipulate election results, analysts say the defections could work in Tinubu’s favor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of work

Phrases Containing wash

Browse Nearby Words

was friends with
wash
washed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wash. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on wash

Nglish: Translation of wash for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wash

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All