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
Dowdle hasn’t brandished the chip on his shoulder much publicly this year.
—
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors had previously argued Collins posed a danger for bringing a weapon into a volatile setting, though Kling maintained his client never brandished the firearm.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Video captured at the scene shows chaos, with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police running with firearms brandished in a crowd of people gathered everywhere around the shopping plaza.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 21 Sep. 2025
One of the motorists brandished a weapon and gunshots were fired.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2025
Many more incidents are categorized as defensive gun uses—in which a firearm is deployed, or brandished, in order to deter a crime.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025
Two drivers got into an argument before one of them, Jesus Preciado Dousten, 33, allegedly brandished a gun and fired a shot in a random direction, according to Glendale police spokesperson Sgt.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
The occupants of two vehicles got into an argument before one of the drivers, Jesus Preciado Dousten, 33, brandished a firearm and fired a shot in a random direction, according to Glendale police spokesperson Sgt.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Any celebratory simulation of a weapon being brandished will draw an automatic unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News, 20 Aug. 2025
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors had previously argued Collins posed a danger for bringing a weapon into a volatile setting, though Kling maintained his client never brandished the firearm.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Video captured at the scene shows chaos, with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police running with firearms brandished in a crowd of people gathered everywhere around the shopping plaza.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 21 Sep. 2025
One of the motorists brandished a weapon and gunshots were fired.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2025
Many more incidents are categorized as defensive gun uses—in which a firearm is deployed, or brandished, in order to deter a crime.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025
Two drivers got into an argument before one of them, Jesus Preciado Dousten, 33, allegedly brandished a gun and fired a shot in a random direction, according to Glendale police spokesperson Sgt.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
The occupants of two vehicles got into an argument before one of the drivers, Jesus Preciado Dousten, 33, brandished a firearm and fired a shot in a random direction, according to Glendale police spokesperson Sgt.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Any celebratory simulation of a weapon being brandished will draw an automatic unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandished
waved
Verb
-
With the Chiefs facing fourth-and-3 inside the 10-yard-line, kicker Harrison Butker took a couple of steps off the sideline before Reid waved him back.—
Sam McDowell
October 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Sullivan waved to the crowd but struggled to muster a smile.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brandished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandished. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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