wash away
Remove by flooding
To wash away is to remove something by the action of water or other liquid.
Rain washes away soil; tears wash away makeup.
The phrase extends to anything that disappears as if carried off by water: Time washes away painful memories.
Floods and storms wash away roads, bridges, and homes—here the sense shifts from cleaning to destruction.
Spiritual or physical regeneration
- fresh startOpportunity to restart unburdened
- cleanseRemove dirt or sin
- purifyRemove unwanted substances
- rejuvenateRestore youthful vigor
renew · release · let go · forgive · absolve · catharsis · redemption · healing
Wash without scrubbing
shower · exfoliate · suds · detergent · launder · sanitize · purify · disinfect
Cease to be visible
- fadeLose intensity gradually
- dissolveDisperse into liquid
- disperseCause to spread apart
- evaporateTransition to gaseous state
obliterate · efface · erase · expunge · wipe out · carry off · remove · dispel
rebirth
Spiritual or physical regeneration
- fresh startOpportunity to restart unburdened
- cleanseRemove dirt or sin
- purifyRemove unwanted substances
rejuvenate · renew · release · let go · forgive · absolve · catharsis · redemption · healing · restore
rinse
Wash without scrubbing
bathe · shower · exfoliate · suds · detergent · launder · sanitize · purify · disinfect · decontaminate
vanish
Cease to be visible
evaporate · obliterate · efface · erase · expunge · wipe out · carry off · remove · dispel
deluge
Severe overflow of water
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
- overflowExceed capacity and spill
- submergePlunge beneath liquid
engulf · swamp · surge · torrent · tsunami · monsoon · downpour · flash flood · mudslide · debris
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
undermine · degrade · crumble · scour · siltation · sediment · gully · ravine · riverbank · shoreline
- laundrydryer, clothes dryer, fold, rinse, spin cycle
- erosionerosion, wearing, wearing down, beach erosion, river erosion