English noun: whitewash | |||
1. | whitewash (event) a defeat in which the losing person or team fails to score | ||
Broader (hypernym) | defeat, licking | ||
2. | whitewash (artifact) wash consisting of lime and size in water; used for whitening walls and other surfaces | ||
Broader (hypernym) | wash | ||
3. | whitewash (act) a specious or deceptive clearing that attempts to gloss over failings and defects | ||
Broader (hypernym) | clearing | ||
English verb: whitewash | |||
1. | whitewash (perception) cover up a misdemeanor, fault, or error | ||
Samples | Let's not whitewash the crimes of Stalin. She tried to gloss over her mistakes. | ||
Synonyms | gloss over, hush up, sleek over | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cover, cover up | ||
2. | whitewash (contact) cover with whitewash | ||
Samples | Whitewash walls. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | wash | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | calcimine | ||
3. | whitewash (communication) exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | acquit, assoil, clear, discharge, exculpate, exonerate | ||