bleach

verb

ˈblēch How to pronounce bleach (audio)
Definition of bleachnext
as in to fade
to make white or whiter by removing color bleached the stained shirt back to its original white

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bleach If a garment or surface isn’t clearly bleach safe, test the product on an inconspicuous area first. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026 Sometimes, corals of a single reef don’t bleach evenly, with some individuals dying off while their neighbors persist. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026 Inside, the scenery is far more elaborate than in its outdoor counterparts as there is no danger of it getting bleached by the sun or blowing away. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Their typically bright coral feathers were white, as if they had been bleached. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bleach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleach
  1. fade
  2. brighten
  3. dull
  4. whiten
Verb
  • Bitcoin has been in a prolonged slump since October, and BTIG noted that a similar surge in January 2023 initially faded before the cryptocurrency found support around its 200-day moving average.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The crimson hue that may have been visible at the height of the eclipse will gradually fade as the crescent of the lunar disk exposed to direct sunlight grows, and normality reasserts itself over the natural satellite.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fade
Verb
  • Niacinamide and vitamin C can help brighten and even out skin tone.
    — Casey DelBasso, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, glycerin, betaine, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, and beta-glucan flood the area with hydration, while niacinamide brightens the look of dullness and uneven tone.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of brighten
Verb
  • For Alex’s family, those seven months have done little to dull the anguish over what happened to him — or their determination to see the two officers who fired the shots held responsible.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The sparkle in her eyes had dulled and her smile seemed forced.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of dull
Verb
  • There’s a bullet hole in Hal’s forehead, as well as a significant accumulation of snow on his already whitening hair.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Pretty early on Europeans became obsessed with skin whitening creams—again, problematic—many of which contained really, really harmful ingredients, also problematic, like lead and mercury.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of whiten

Browse Nearby Words

blazons
bleach
bleached
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bleach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleach. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bleach

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bleach

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
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
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All