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Definition of brainwasher

brainwasher

/ˈbreɪnˌwɑːʃ.ɚ/
brain · wash · er
Plural:brainwashers
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brainwasher Lexical Profile

brainwasher Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person or group that forces others to adopt radically different beliefs by using systematic, coercive, and often manipulative psychological pressure.

Example

"The documentary examined how the cult leader operated as a master brainwasher, isolating members from their families until they unquestioningly accepted his ideology."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for brainwasher

• Nearby Words

brainstorming
brainteaser
brainwash
brainwasher
brainwashing
brainwave
brainwork

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed as an agent noun from the verb "brainwash," which entered English in 1950 during the Korean War as a literal translation (calque) of the Mandarin Chinese phrase "xǐ nǎo" (meaning "to wash the brain").

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Brainwasher. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/brainwasher
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