blushing 1 of 2

Definition of blushingnext

blushing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of blush
as in glowing
to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) she blushed when she realized she had walked into the boys' bathroom by mistake

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 blushing
Adjective
The saxophones and horns of Miller’s Army Air Force Band waft through the house, enveloping the medals on the wall and the photos of a young soldier and his blushing bride. Bill Newcott, National Geographic, 13 Dec. 2019 But when a thorny, unsolved problem arose a boss invariably stood up and pointed to the blushing youngster. Brandon R. Brown, Smithsonian, 12 July 2019 And on her wedding day, Paltrow looked every bit the blushing bride. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2018 And then his blushing bride-to-be, fellow host Mika Brzezinski, vigorously defends him on Twitter. Fox News, 12 Sep. 2018 Inspired by 2003's Kill Bill, the Western-themed music video opens in a church, with Cardi starring as a blushing bride, with glowy skin and a head full of platinum blond strands blowing in the wind. Helena Yeung, Teen Vogue, 22 May 2018 Much like the blushing bride, the six young bridesmaids walked down the aisle in dresses designed by Givenchy‘s Clare Waight Keller, according to a palace statement. Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, 19 May 2018 With soft blushing cheeks and a lip color that practically matches, Kate Bosworth looks like a picture-perfect celestial maiden. Kathleen Hou, The Cut, 7 May 2018 There could be hundreds of such blushing encounters before the chameleons of two different colors are familiar enough to mate. Quanta Magazine, 28 July 2017
Verb
New Jersey forest cherries, bright yellow, blushing red. John McPhee, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 These blushing spring radishes add a lovely color and flavor to little gem lettuces. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026 Sink and Jupe’s chemistry is palpable, and their first kiss is slow and sweet, with Sink’s face blushing a blazing red. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026 The New York Times bestselling author known for her young adult romantasy series Lightlark and her enemies-to-lovers romance Summer in the City, is tackling adult romantasy for the first time with her new novel Starside — a book that will leave you blushing on your morning commute. Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026 Siegel agreed that niacin does have some side effects, including skin blushing. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026 Our southwest-facing room also rather generously provided a view towards Mount Fuji 60 miles away, all the more impressive when silhouetted against the blushing sunset. Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026 Other videos show the Finder app reimagined with cutesy, anime-style eyes, blushing at the camera, and someone opening a pink blush compact sporting the Apple logo. Greta Cross, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026 Only on the occasional night out would the former publicist embellish her features by blushing her lips in a ruby red hue — sometimes glossy, sometimes matte. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blushing
Adjective
  • Plants produce large, rounded flowerheads from late summer to fall in sparkling pink, purple, and rose-red hues, providing a late season source of nectar to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
  • As for glam, Chopra Jonas opted for a shimmering deep berry lip, a pop of pink blush and a golden smokey eye.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider scored in the third period for the Ducks, who got embarrassed in their team’s first home game in the second round since 2017.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 May 2026
  • Many people are too embarrassed to report they’ve been filched.
    Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Brilliant knots of newborn stars, dark rivers of dust and glowing cavities carved by stellar winds combine to create a vivid portrait of galaxies in constant motion.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 11 May 2026
  • Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) also reveals the cooler dust spread across the galaxy, glowing at longer wavelengths and shown in blue.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • The higher the acidity (pH less than six), the bluer your blooms, while more alkaline soil (pH greater than seven) typically results in pinkish flowers.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
  • The tattoo looked like a black and pinkish Skeletor, or an elaborate twig, or that long-neck brother from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
    Kiese Laymon, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Sugano walked off the mound with a sheepish grin.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The video feed suddenly cut out, replaced by a view inside the White Flight Control Room here at NASA's Johnson Space Center while flight controllers prepared a response that sounded a bit sheepish.
    Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In its statement, Synergy Marine Group said the use of the flushing pump was irrelevant to the cause of the crash, blaming it on a manufacturer's latent defect, the loose wire in the ship's electrical system.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • However, the flushing pump was not designed to automatically restart following a blackout, and the Dali’s generators could not operate without a fuel supply, so the ship ultimately experienced a second blackout, the indictment said.
    Luke Barr, ABC News, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • Previously, the city burned flushed waste, leaving an odor around Blue River and I-435.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026
  • The filters must be occasionally back-flushed for proper operation.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In the late summer and fall, Callery pears produce small brown fruit, which birds and squirrels collect and disperse.
    Jerry Wu, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
  • On Thursday, April 16, Loughlin shimmered in a silver strappy dress by Rebecca Vallance and sported a bob cut and bangs — a departure from her usual long brown hair.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blushing. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on blushing

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster