as in waves
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 brandishes
Christa gleefully brandishes a page she’s ripped out of the phonebook that has her childhood address on it.
—
Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025
Harrelson brandishes that anything-goes leer that never gets old.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
The actor playing Brown wears a red hooded sweatshirt and brandishes a pocket knife similar to the one police say Brown used to fatally stab Zarutska.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025
When a trompo taco is ordered, a cook brandishes a knife of ferocious sharpness, shaving a thin, broad piece large enough to overhang the corn tortilla it’s laid upon.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025
Harrelson brandishes that anything-goes leer that never gets old.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
The actor playing Brown wears a red hooded sweatshirt and brandishes a pocket knife similar to the one police say Brown used to fatally stab Zarutska.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025
When a trompo taco is ordered, a cook brandishes a knife of ferocious sharpness, shaving a thin, broad piece large enough to overhang the corn tortilla it’s laid upon.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandishes
Verb
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Every now and again, a brand-new book waves its knowing hand.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
11 Feb. 2026
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Dancer Natalie Reid approaches to take the barstool beside her, but Swift waves her away because the seat is reserved for her stone.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Zoo announces stricter rules for visiting Punch Ishikawa City Zoo, a relatively small zoo in Ishikawa, Japan, has spent the past few months ramping up its infrastructure to handle the influx of guests interested in seeing Punch.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
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After each year’s trials, the Arboretum announces a list of top performers.—
Mary Grace Granados
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Consumers have to think twice about buying from a foreign producer that uses child labor or any retailer that advertises deceptively or sells customer data.—
Peter Jensen,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Mar. 2026
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Anthem advertises a 100% money-back guarantee for certain services, though exclusions may apply.—
Deane Biermeier,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This produces a sharp optical transmission peak that serves as a highly stable frequency reference.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
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An illegible city produces anxiety, alienation and disorientation.—
Yunus Emre Tozal,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandishes. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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