as in to wave
to put into view in a threatening or excited manner
She brandished a stick at the dog. brandished a petition signed by hundreds of town residents
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Recent Examples of brandish
Yet despite all the characters brandishing weapons, the only person in the entire series who seems capable of getting away with murder is Jeff Wentworth, a former Texas state senator who objects to an imposing wall that his neighbor Alexa has constructed around her property, in San Antonio.
—
Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
The suspect brandished a handgun and forced the man back inside his home, striking both the man and his 62-year-old wife with the gun inside the house, police said.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November 2025 in Los Angeles federal court to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (known as a Hobbs Act offense) and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence.
—City News Service, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brandish
Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
The suspect brandished a handgun and forced the man back inside his home, striking both the man and his 62-year-old wife with the gun inside the house, police said.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November 2025 in Los Angeles federal court to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (known as a Hobbs Act offense) and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence.
—City News Service, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brandish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandish
Verb
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The fabric covering her front continued behind her like two mini trains, which Olandria waved with her hands, creating an almost wing-like shape.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
16 Mar. 2026
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As the first wave of free agency passed, Sean Payton waved back from his office window.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On April 1 — April Whew’s Day for the Aztecs — Gwath announced his return after the MESA Foundation put together a more competitive agreement that, of course, was still well short of what the blue bloods could offer.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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The exact cause of the crash has not been publicly announced, but likely the result of mechanical failure, a midair refueling accident, or a fuel system malfunction.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The device was developed by scientists at Rice University and relies on bacteria that naturally produce electrical signals in response to certain chemicals, known as analytes.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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This story was produced in partnership with the Food & Environment Reporting Network, an independent nonprofit news organization.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandish. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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