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
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Blake notes that the Academy also holds a rare 35mm print of the film’s trailer, in which Preminger appears and announces the selection of Seberg in the title role.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2026
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These words also receive more meaning when a new Lady Whistledown takes the torch and announces herself in the finale.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Unitree, one of China’s leading robotic companies, currently advertises a base price of $13,500 (£10,000) for its G1 humanoid robot.—
Will Barker,
TheWeek,
23 Feb. 2026
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Unitree, for example, advertises a base price of $13,500 for its G1 humanoid robot.—
Dylan Butts,Matthew Chin,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When oxygen from the air passes over small pieces of iron inside the battery, the iron rusts and produces electricity.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Feb. 2026
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Each year, the association produces scientific statements and guidelines based on expert consensus to promote longer, healthier lives.—
Barbara Mantel,
NBC news,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandishes. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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