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brush 1 of 3

noun

Definition of brushnext
as in encounter
a brief clash between enemies or rivals the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded

Synonyms & Similar Words

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brush

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

brush

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to kiss
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brush
Noun
After washing, Adriano advises laying brushes flat or upside down to dry, with the bristles pointing downward. — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2026 Skip the salon thanks to the award-winning Blowout Express brush-meets-curler. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
But the replay official determined Treadwell was down by contact after he was brushed by Sneed’s finger while falling to the ground. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 Images also depict a heap of trash bags outside the sally port and people brushing their teeth outside with a hose. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush
  1. encounter
  2. flow
  3. kiss
  4. glide
  5. shave
  6. drift
  7. touch
  8. sweep
Noun
  • Grazer put up a fight against Chunk to defend her cubs, but one cub died after the encounter.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Blanco’s family’s lawsuit argued the officers could have done more to deescalate the encounter, including through the use of less-lethal weapons, such as a 40mm projectile launcher.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • During 2020 and 2021, federal funding was flowing intononprofits through the PPP forgivable loans and other programs.
    — Phil Buchanan, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Soon after the war started, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which some 20% of the world’s oil flowed before the conflict, sending shock waves through the world economy.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • The pair spent Saturday shopping and walking around Paris, where they were photographed holding hands and kissing in the street.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2026
  • In the middle of May, Beck once again kissed Leigh good-bye and embarked on some tour dates, these ones in Japan.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • Eventually, the water will form into distinct beads that glide easily around the pan.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Infused with sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil, jojoba seed oil, squalane, and shea butter, Dear Dahlia’s Lip Paradise Sensual Lip Glow feels like, well, butter gliding onto your lips.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of glide
Verb
  • SpaceX wanted Ship to complete about six orbits and splash down off the coast of Chile 9 hours and 50 minutes after launch, but mission controllers decided to shave nearly seven hours off that flight time.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Especially right now, since Amazon just shaved 22% off for an early Prime Big Deal Day treat.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • Unfortunately, over the decades, the program has drifted wildly off course.
    — Christina Smith, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Attempt techniques like progressive muscle relaxation and body scans, box breathing, or even picturing your thoughts as clouds that are drifting away.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of drift
Verb
  • Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in her morning news briefing that experts had indicated that the hurricane was not likely to touch land.
    — DESIREE BROOKS, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Miley isn’t touching the most compelling corners of her story.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of touch
Verb
  • At the same time, teenage Nussbaum yearned to fit in school, to find the perfect Villager brand outfit, a skirt sweater over a shirt with a Peter Pan collar that (in those pre-hippie days) was sweeping suburban high schools.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Beyoncé launched Cécred in February 2024 after years of development, drawing partly from her childhood spent sweeping hair in her mother Tina Knowles’ Houston salon.
    — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of sweep

Phrases Containing brush

Browse Nearby Words

brunts
brush
brush (aside or off)
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Cite this Entry

“Brush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on brush

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brush

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