whitewashes

Noun

whitewash (countable and uncountable, plural whitewashes)

1. (uncountable) A mixture of a powdered mineral substance (often slaked lime (containing calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), or both) and water which is used for painting surfaces such as fences and walls bright white.
   • Near-synonym: limewash (often coinstantial)

   Synonyms:

   limewash

2. (figuratively) A thing used to hide mistakes, or to create an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; also (often politics), an act of hiding mistakes or creating an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; especially, a campaign, investigation, etc., which intentionally hides or overlooks unfavourable facts.
   • “She has developed an arrogance of power,” Mr. Richardson said by telephone during a layover in Tokyo on his way back to New Mexico from Myanmar. “I’ve known her a long time and am fond of her, but she basically is unwilling to listen to bad news, and I don’t want to be part of a whitewash.”2018 January 24, Hannah Beech, Rick Gladstone, “Citing ‘Whitewash,’ Bill Richardson Quits Rohingya Post”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC

   Antonyms:

   blackwash

3. (figuratively) An act of clearing a person's debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court.
4. (figuratively) A complete victory or series of victories without suffering any losses; a clean sweep; also, a victory or series of victories by a very large margin.
   • For the first time in a long time, Australia are being threatened with the prospect of a 5-0 whitewash2010, Andrew Miller, Cricinfo
5. (uncountable) The most basic type of thickening agent, consisting of flour blended with water to make a paste.
6. (countable, historical) A preparation for making the skin look lighter.
   • I have heard a whole Sermon against a White-wash.1713, Joseph Addison, The Guardian

See all 21 meanings of whitewash