brainwashing en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
Calque of Chinese 洗腦 /洗脑 (xǐnǎo, literally “wash brain”). First use appears c. 1950.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) A form of indoctrination that forces people to abandon their beliefs in favour of another set of beliefs by conditioning through various forms of pressure or torture.
So it came about, through Pavlov's work, that the Soviets developed and perfected the 'brain-washing' technique seen to be so effective in the state trials of the 1930s. An amazed world witnessed the sight of intelligent and renowned figures genuinely confessing to criminal acts against the state, or voicing ideological dogma in a total reversal of their previously held values.
1994, David Lawrence Pedersen, Cameral Analysis: A Method of Treating the Psychoneurosis Using Hypnosis, page 96:All new prisoners were assigned to "study groups" or "introductory teams" that were responsible for applying a variety of brain-washing techniques designed to break down all old beliefs and attitudes and replace them with Communist-Socialist thoughts.
2000, Boyé De Mente, The Chinese Have a Word for It: The Complete Guide to Chinese Thought and Culture, McGraw-Hill, →ISBN, page 421:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| brainwashings | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| brain-washing | alternative | lexicographic |
Synonyms
menticide · reeducation · programming · thought reform · mind control · thought control · coercive persuasion
Translations (59)
de Hirnwäsche (form of indoctrination) · fa-ira شُسْتُشویِ مَغْزی (form of indoctrination) · da hjernevask (form of indoctrination) · et ajupesu (form of indoctrination) · vi tẩy não (form of indoctrination) · it lavaggio del cervello (form of indoctrination) · hi विचार-नियंत्रण (form of indoctrination) · de Mentizid (form of indoctrination) · fr lavage de cerveau (form of indoctrination) · pl pranie mózgu (form of indoctrination) · fi aivopesu (form of indoctrination) · sq shpëlarje e trurit (form of indoctrination) · nb hjernevasking (form of indoctrination) · fo heilatváttur (form of indoctrination) · sh ispiranje mozga (form of indoctrination) · mk миење мозок (form of indoctrination) · ur دِماغ شُوئی (form of indoctrination) · mk перење на мозокот (form of indoctrination) · nn hjernevasking (form of indoctrination) · yue 洗腦 /洗脑 (form of indoctrination) · eo cerbolavado (form of indoctrination) · cmn 洗腦 /洗脑 (form of indoctrination) · sl pranje možganov (form of indoctrination) · be прамыва́нне мазго́ў (form of indoctrination) · afb غسيل مخ (form of indoctrination) · tg шустушӯи мағзи (form of indoctrination) · ro spălare a creierului (form of indoctrination) · es comedura de coco (form of indoctrination) · nan-hbl 洗腦 /洗脑 (form of indoctrination) · be прамыва́ньне мазго́ў (form of indoctrination) · pt lavagem cerebral (form of indoctrination) · el πλύση εγκεφάλου (form of indoctrination) · sh испирање мозга (form of indoctrination) · de Gehirnwäsche (form of indoctrination) · th การล้างสมอง (form of indoctrination) · nl hersenspoeling (form of indoctrination) · sk vymývanie mozgov (form of indoctrination) · he שטיפת מוח \ שְׁטִיפַת מוֹחַ (form of indoctrination) · id cuci otak (form of indoctrination) · cs vymývání mozků (form of indoctrination) · ru промыва́ние мозго́в (form of indoctrination) · lv smadzeņu skalošana (form of indoctrination) · hy ուղեղների լվացում (form of indoctrination) · is heilaþvottur (form of indoctrination) · uk промива́ння мі́зків (form of indoctrination) · ar غَسِيل دِمَاغ (form of indoctrination) · hu agymosás (form of indoctrination) · nb hjernevask (form of indoctrination) · lt smegenų plovimas (form of indoctrination) · az beyin yuma (form of indoctrination) · ka ტვინის გამორეცხვა (form of indoctrination) · bg проми́ване на мо́зъци (form of indoctrination) · ca rentat de cervell (form of indoctrination) · nn hjernevask (form of indoctrination) · es lavado de cerebro (form of indoctrination) · ja 洗脳 (form of indoctrination) · ko 세뇌 (form of indoctrination) · sv hjärntvätt (form of indoctrination) · ar غَسِيل مُخّ (form of indoctrination)