brush-off 1 of 2

as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly the mayor tends to give anyone under voting age the brush-off

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brush (off)

2 of 2

verb

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 (off)
Verb
Some interpreted the moment as a blatant brush-off; however, others pointed out that Brigitte, 72, could simply have been focused on keeping her balance on the airplane steps or preparing herself to greet the Prince and Princess of Wales. Meredith Kile, People.com, 8 July 2025 But our findings suggest that the mere inclusion of abbreviations, although seemingly benign, start feeling like a brush-off. David Fang, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025 But there are now pressing concerns over whether Trump will pull the U.S. from the alliance as part of his broader brush-off of America's allies—and whether the remaining nations of the Five Eyes could survive it. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025 Alumi-Blast is an apt name for this low sheen coating that looks realistically like cast aluminum that has received a light brush-off abrasive blast at the factory. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 26 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush (off)
Noun
  • The Justice Department’s dismissal of the charges comes as Moore started a 15-day trial earlier this week in Salt Lake City, Utah.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 July 2025
  • President Donald Trump’s potential dismissal of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is a major and underpriced risk that could trigger a selloff in the US dollar and Treasuries, a Deutsche Bank AG strategist said.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Robust turf growth is often able to shrug off occasional grub pressure, so care well for your lawn by supplying necessary nutrients and water.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2025
  • Miners or environmentalists reported that some investigators seemed to shrug off reports of equipment failure or toxic pollution.
    Laken Brooks, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that a legislative committee's rejection of a ban on conversion therapy was unconstitutional.
    Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
  • Education Secretary Linda McMahon commented on the California rejection in a social media post Monday.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Garcia was also named an injury replacement Friday after being listed as a potential snub.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2025
  • Garcia was on the list of snubs that deserved an All-Star spot but missed out due to a plethora of deserving players at his position.
    Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • New York Senator Julia Salazar, who was among the electeds observing hearings Thursday called for New Yorkers to reject what is happening inside lower Manhattan immigration courts.
    Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
  • But her boss rejects her resignation, and offers her a new assignment: find Xavier, the mysterious kingpin whose power reaches all the way to the Oval Office.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • They have since been dismissed by the local solicitor general's office, WSB-TV reported.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 12 July 2025
  • So far, nearly 60,000 federal employees have been dismissed, with the State Department layoffs marking the latest round of cuts.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • His ostentatious well-being is scorned by Walker, who equates equilibrium with compromise.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
  • As master of ceremonies at her Fool’s Moon cabaret, Puella displays the kind of unearned self-assurance that usually wins praise for men and scorn for women.
    Michael Snyder, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • He was left out of the 2024 T20 World Cup roster and passed over for multiple tours abroad.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
  • Then he gets hit by a bus and, while in a coma, gets passed over again in favor of John Stewart.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brush (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush%20%28off%29. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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