brainwash

Meanings

Noun

• A distorting effect upon one's memory, belief, or ideas, as by propaganda.

Verb

• To affect one's mind by using extreme mental pressure or any other mind-affecting process. (e.g. hypnosis)
• To take from an electronically controlled machine its stored-up information; to erase a computer's programming. (1960)

Origin

• brain + wash, , literally "to wash the brain". Usage via U.S. military during Korean War.