What does "brainwashing" mean?
A form of indoctrination that forces people to abandon their beliefs in favour of another set of beliefs by conditioning through various forms of pressure or torture.
Brainwashing
noun, verb
noun, verb ·3 syllables ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A form of indoctrination that forces people to abandon their beliefs in favour of another set of beliefs by conditioning through various forms of pressure or torture.
- Grammar: brainwashing is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: academic indoctrination, alienation, coercive, coercive persuasion.
- Useful contrasts: allow self-determination, autonomy, balanced.
- Usage evidence: Some people think that advertising is a form of brainwashing.
How to use "brainwashing"
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- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "brainwashing" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A form of indoctrination that forces people to abandon their beliefs in favour of another set of beliefs by conditioning through various forms of pressure or torture. countable, uncountable
"So it came about, through Pavlov's work, that the Soviets developed and perfected the 'brain-washing' technique seen to be so effective in the state trials of the 1930s. An amazed world witnessed the sight of intelligent and renowned figures genuinely confessing to criminal acts against the state, or voicing ideological dogma in a total reversal of their previously held values."
- 2 forcible indoctrination into a new set of attitudes and beliefs wordnet
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of brainwash form-of, gerund, participle, present
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Some people think that advertising is a form of brainwashing."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "brainwashing"?
Common synonyms include: academic indoctrination, alienation, coercive, coercive persuasion, collective brainwashing, condition.
How do you use "brainwashing" in a sentence?
Some people think that advertising is a form of brainwashing.
Etymology
Calque of Chinese 洗腦 /洗脑 (xǐnǎo, literally “wash brain”). First use appears c. 1950.