What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
doctrinize
Example
The school aims to doctrinize its students with a strong sense of patriotism. [doctrinize: verb]
Example
The political party attempted to doctrinize its members with their ideology. [doctrinize: verb]
brainwash
Example
The cult leader used brainwashing techniques to control his followers. [brainwashing: noun]
Example
The prisoners were subjected to intense brainwashing to extract information. [brainwashing: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Brainwash is more commonly used than doctrinize in everyday language, but both words are relatively uncommon and may be considered formal or technical vocabulary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between doctrinize and brainwash?
Both doctrinize and brainwash are associated with formal or technical language and may not be appropriate for casual conversation. However, brainwash is often used in more informal contexts, such as in popular media or everyday speech, while doctrinize is less common and may be considered more formal.