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
The Connecticut Office of Inspector General has ruled that the use of deadly force was justified in the fatal shooting of a man who brandished a pistol during a foot chase in Bridgeport in March 2025, according to a report released Monday.
—
Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 9 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
Police said Husein brandished a firearm at an employee before stealing a green Corvette.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Suddenly, the passenger brandished a handgun and ordered Sosa Ordonez to get out of the car.
—Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
Krejci’s expression as referee Tom Kirk brandished the red card looked like one of genuine bewilderment.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Police said Madden entered a 59-year-old man’s Euclid Avenue apartment that night, brandished a gun and took the man’s wallet.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
For several minutes, humanoids from Unitree Robotics showed different sequences and even brandished swords.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
For several minutes, humanoids from Unitree Robotics showed different sequences and even brandished swords.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 9 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
Police said Husein brandished a firearm at an employee before stealing a green Corvette.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Suddenly, the passenger brandished a handgun and ordered Sosa Ordonez to get out of the car.
—Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
Krejci’s expression as referee Tom Kirk brandished the red card looked like one of genuine bewilderment.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Police said Madden entered a 59-year-old man’s Euclid Avenue apartment that night, brandished a gun and took the man’s wallet.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
For several minutes, humanoids from Unitree Robotics showed different sequences and even brandished swords.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
For several minutes, humanoids from Unitree Robotics showed different sequences and even brandished swords.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandished
waved
Verb
-
The refs by the way did not assess a technical foul to KU for trying to start six players since Williams waved the walkons off before the actual tip.—
Gary Bedore
March 4,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Trump waved away both resolutions with a presidential veto.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandished. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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