WHITENING Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

whitening

verb

Definition of whitening

present participle of whiten

as in bleaching

to make white or whiter by removing color years of sunlight had almost completely whitened the flag

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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 whitening 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 Consult a dry cleaner for whitening non-washable fabrics that have yellowed. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 July 2026 The chemical remains an ingredient in countless products from whitening toothpastes to eyeshadows, although the FDA did ban its inclusion in household soap products in 2016. — David Faris, TheWeek, 12 June 2026 There’s nothing wrong with adding a filter and whitening your teeth with a click of a button. — Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 Baking soda is great for whitening and removing stains, and sometimes nothing is tougher than coffee and tea stains left behind on our favorite ceramic mugs. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 11 May 2026 Adding teeth whitening toothpaste to your daily brushing routine is an excellent way to address discoloration caused by popular culprits such as coffee, wine and smoking. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 The best use of baking soda for stain removal is as a whitening agent to brighten dingy white or light-colored clothes or household goods. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whitening

Verb

The researchers first treated the cotton with sodium dithionite, a reducing agent, before bleaching it with hydrogen peroxide under alkaline conditions.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Discoloration to Your Driveway Commercial weed killers can stain driveways by leaving behind white chalky residues, bleaching the stone, or damaging protective surface sealers.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026

Definition of bleaching

Verb

As the conflict grinds on, Trump’s talk of finding a quick end to the war also appears to be fading.

— Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
European banks have shaken off a weak first quarter to notch solid share price gains in the year to date, but Citi analysts warn their momentum may be fading.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of fading

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whiteness

whitening

whitens

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“Whitening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whitening. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of whitening

verb

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