1
as in faded
lacking intensity of color
washed-out blond hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
feeling washed-out after the endless primary season, the party's nominee needs a vacation more than anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful
most of the participants in the tough training program washed out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bleached
to make white or whiter by removing color
the bright lights of the TV studio washed out her facial features, making her look as white as a ghost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wore
to use up all the physical energy of
that last illness washed the child out completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rinsed
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
wash out your bathing suit in the sink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of washed-out
Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
This shade leans totally into nude territory without being washed-out.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 July 2024
The picture is bright, though some high-contrast shots of silhouetted objects show slightly muddy or washed-out shadow details; the contours of a lioness against a sunset are slightly indistinct, while trees against a stormy sky are a bit too light.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
That addition is particularly important considering users have complained in Samsung's user forums and on Reddit about the current vivid setting appearing too washed-out.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Although colors aren’t reference-monitor accurate, the lifelike hues and sharp edges on words and textures create a high-quality image that doesn’t look artificially saturated or washed-out like on similar portable monitors.
—Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2023
Adjective
Lindsay’s nails cause the color of the nail bed to look half white and half red or brown, whereas Terry’s nails cause the nail bed to look mostly white or washed-out, per Cleveland Clinic.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
This shade leans totally into nude territory without being washed-out.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 July 2024
The picture is bright, though some high-contrast shots of silhouetted objects show slightly muddy or washed-out shadow details; the contours of a lioness against a sunset are slightly indistinct, while trees against a stormy sky are a bit too light.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
That addition is particularly important considering users have complained in Samsung's user forums and on Reddit about the current vivid setting appearing too washed-out.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Although colors aren’t reference-monitor accurate, the lifelike hues and sharp edges on words and textures create a high-quality image that doesn’t look artificially saturated or washed-out like on similar portable monitors.
—Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for washed-out
Adjective
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Gray and faded whiskers may be changed to their natural color and even brown or black by using Buckingham dye – try it.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Groom indoor foliage to remove old leaves, faded flowers and declining portions.—
Tom MacCubbin,
Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Markets grow tired of tariff changes U.S. stocks tumbled Thursday on tariff flip-flop fatigue.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Sleep deprivation comes with real costs Chronic sleep deprivation does more than leave people tired.—
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Existing home sales fell to levels last seen during the financial crisis as housing affordability measured by the National Association of Realtors collapsed.—
Matthew A. Winkler Bloomberg Opinion (TNS),
arkansasonline.com,
23 Dec. 2024
-
The 150ft section of the pier that collapsed, which included a restroom, was being worked on after it had been damaged by storms in the past.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The 31-year-old pop superstar, nominated for Best Supporting Actress, arrived in a pale pink Schiaparelli ball gown covered in 190,000 sequins and rhinestones.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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The second image captured by the Blue Ghost lander shows the lander sitting on the moon's surface with a distant pale blue dot — Earth — in the background.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Over time, this pattern can leave you emotionally exhausted and constantly walking on eggshells to prevent upsetting them.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Hackman was busy in the 1970s — his work also included the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and a French Connection sequel — and the regimen left him exhausted.—
Duane Byrge,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former CTU organizer who was elected on the grateful largesse of the union, has fought CPS at every turn but failed in his attempt to banish schools CEO Pedro Martinez.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2025
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Most of the residents who spoke ahead of the council’s vote last month argued that Chan represented the status quo, was overpaid and had failed at his job.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacramento Bee,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Hollis brightened the beige-on-beige hallway entrance to her apartment by hanging a wreath of flowers on her brown door.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Jan. 2025
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Hotter and brighter than the sun The OGLE data revealed several objects in the LMC and SMC that brightened by between 10 and 20 times over the course of a few months.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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There was a lot of talk about Aaron Rodgers being washed.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2025
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Separately, norovirus outbreaks can also spring from food that was contaminated at the source and that’s often eaten raw, like shellfish harvested from virus-laden water or produce washed with it.—
Maggie O'Neill,
SELF,
6 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Washed-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/washed-out. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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