From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbrainwashbrain‧wash /ˈbreɪnwɒʃ $ -wɒːʃ, -wɑːʃ/ verb [transitive] TEACHto make someone believe something that is not true, by using force, confusing them, or continuously repeating it over a long period of time Young people are being brainwashed by this religious group.brainwash somebody into doing something Commercials brainwash consumers into buying things they don’t need. —brainwashing noun [uncountable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
brainwash• Education is indoctrination, or, as described today, the brainwash.• I hope my younger self doesn't see me as having been brainwashed!• It was a triumph to pedagogic brainwashing.• For years we've been brainwashed by advertising into buying more and more things that we don't need.• Kids are being brainwashed by the people who make these toy commercials.• Mrs Davis accused the cult of having brainwashed her daughter.• People are brainwashed into believing family life is the best.• We were brainwashed into seeing qualities like gentleness and sensitivity as negative and weak.• There was a lot of brainwashing involved.• In the last few years, attitudes have changed and society now expects smokers to wipe out 70 years of brainwashing overnight.• About the only way to be a harem-guarding potentate nowadays is to start a cult and brainwash potential concubines about your holiness.brainwash somebody into doing something• The Church is being sued by two former members who said they were brainwashed into joining it. 