whitewasher

whitewasher

A whitewasher paints a wooden fence with a large brush.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • One who applies whitewash: A "whitewasher" is a person whose profession or task is to apply whitewash, a mixture of lime and water used to whiten walls, fences, or other surfaces.
    • One who conceals faults: Figuratively, a "whitewasher" is a person who attempts to conceal or gloss over flaws, mistakes, or scandals, often to protect someone's reputation.
Usage Examples

  • Literal sense:

    • The whitewasher arrived early to coat the barn with fresh lime. (A worker who applies whitewash to a structure.)

  • Figurative sense:

    • The politician was accused of being a whitewasher, hiding the corruption in his administration. (A person who conceals or downplays wrongdoing.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to act as a whitewasher": to serve the role of covering up problems or disreputable facts.
    • The committee hired a public relations firm to act as a whitewasher for the scandal. (The firm was employed to hide the scandal.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Whitewash (n/v): the substance used for whitening; also the act of concealing faults.

    • The whitewash on the fence looked fresh and clean. (The substance applied by the whitewasher.)
    • They tried to whitewash the company's environmental violations. (To conceal or gloss over faults.)

  • Whitewashed (adj): having been covered with whitewash; also, figuratively, made to appear better than reality.

    • The whitewashed walls reflected the sunlight. (Literally coated with whitewash.)
    • The whitewashed history of the regime omitted many atrocities. (Figuratively cleaned up or sanitized.)
Synonyms
  • Cover-up artist: a person who conceals wrongdoing.
  • Apologist: someone who defends or excuses faults.
  • Painter (literal): a person who applies paint or whitewash.
Related Idioms

  • To whitewash the truth: to deliberately present a false or incomplete picture of reality.

    • The report was nothing but an attempt to whitewash the truth about the accident. (To hide or distort facts.)

  • A whitewash job: an effort to conceal flaws or mistakes.

    • The investigation was criticized as a whitewash job by the media. (A superficial or dishonest inquiry.)