underbrush

noun

un·​der·​brush ˈən-dər-ˌbrəsh 

1

: shrubs, bushes, or small trees growing beneath large trees in a wood or forest : brush

2

: a tangled, obstructing, or impeding mass

Examples of underbrush in a Sentence

We made our way through the thick underbrush.

Recent Examples on the Web

The prescribed burn will clear out underbrush to allow native plants to thrive, Martin said, adding that wildlife depends on those plants for food and shelter. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026

Hanson, who spends much of his life crawling through underbrush to count trees, plunged ahead into stands of chest-high ceanothus, pointing out sequoias camouflaged in the pervasive post-fire brush. —Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026

Ten years ago, the land was undeveloped, a tangle of palms and underbrush. —Rob Davis, ProPublica, 3 Mar. 2026

Make sure there are no overhanging limbs that could combust, cut back and remove nearby grasses, brambles, and underbrush, and have a fire extinguisher ready to deal with any embers that float away. —Steven John, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for underbrush

• airbrush
• hairbrush
• inrush
• onrush
• paintbrush
• sagebrush
• blush
• brush
• crush
• flush
• gush
• hush

Kids Definition

underbrush

noun

un·​der·​brush ˈən-dər-ˌbrəsh 

: shrubs and small trees growing among large trees : undergrowth