Brainwash

/ˈbreɪnˌwɔːʃ/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to manipulate someone into adopting certain beliefs or attitudes through psychological pressure or coercion.

The cult was known to brainwash its members with intense psychological conditioning.

to cause someone to forget or to radically change their beliefs, often by forceful persuasion.

The government's propaganda efforts aimed to brainwash the population into accepting the new regime.

to use systematic coercive persuasion to alter someone's beliefs away from their original views.

The organization was charged with attempting to brainwash individuals through misleading information and emotional manipulation.

to subject someone to a process that changes their beliefs or behaviors through repetitive exposure to particular ideas.

After spending weeks under extreme conditions, he felt like the media had tried to brainwash him into a specific ideology.

The term is a blend of 'brain' and 'wash', implying the cleansing of thoughts.

brainwashing techniques

Methods used to cause a person to change their beliefs.

brainwashed followers

Individuals who have been influenced to adopt specific beliefs or ideologies.

mental conditioning

A process whereby someone's thoughts are manipulated.

indoctrinate

To teach a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.

propaganda

Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause.

To influence someone in a subversive way.

He totally brainwashed her into thinking his way.

To convince someone to accept a particular viewpoint.

They brainwashed the kids to love their product.