English Explanatory Dictionary

brainwashing

English dictionary entry

Meanings

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.
verb
  1. present participle and gerund of brainwash

Pronunciation

en-us-brain-washing.ogg

Word forms

brainwashing brainwashings brain-washing

Etymology

Calque of Chinese 洗腦 /洗脑 (xǐnǎo, literally “wash brain”). First use appears c. 1950.

Synonyms

coercive persuasion mind control menticide programming reeducation thought control thought reform
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