as in waved
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 brandished
Nor were the tools ever displayed, much less brandished, as the tabloids suggested.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Police said the man intentionally brandished a firearm and then started a house on fire.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 6 Jan. 2026
When troopers arrived, the victim of the crime reported that Crews had brandished a crowbar as well as a firearm at them while driving.
—Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
One attacker brandished a motorcycle helmet as a weapon and chased Ziering onto the sidewalk.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
As the man demanded money from the cash register, the store owner reportedly brandished his own gun and shot the suspect.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Ellis brandished multiple knives before retreating to the entrance after a customer confronted him with a firearm, the report said.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 13 Dec. 2025
Police said one in the group also brandished a firearm.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
In a 2024 Rolling Stone profile, the country-rock singer repeatedlyfired off the N-word and brandished a gun.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Police said the man intentionally brandished a firearm and then started a house on fire.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 6 Jan. 2026
When troopers arrived, the victim of the crime reported that Crews had brandished a crowbar as well as a firearm at them while driving.
—Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
One attacker brandished a motorcycle helmet as a weapon and chased Ziering onto the sidewalk.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
As the man demanded money from the cash register, the store owner reportedly brandished his own gun and shot the suspect.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Ellis brandished multiple knives before retreating to the entrance after a customer confronted him with a firearm, the report said.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 13 Dec. 2025
Police said one in the group also brandished a firearm.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
In a 2024 Rolling Stone profile, the country-rock singer repeatedlyfired off the N-word and brandished a gun.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandished
waved
Verb
-
Trump put on one of the rings, flashed it to the cameras and waved his new hockey stick during the ceremony.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Frederic was due to be an unrestricted free agent and the Bruins waved the white flag on their playoff hopes.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandished. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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