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
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
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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In Los Angeles, Justin Bieber takes the court for some basketball, a pregnant Cardi B waves her arms and Glen Powell and Peyton Manning are all smiles at the Chad Powers premiere.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
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After the Hunt star Andrew Garfield waves to attendees of the red carpet premiere of the film in Venice on Friday.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After Beijing announces that major Taiwan ports have been mined, sea traffic to Taiwan nosedives as shipping insurance rates soar.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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Netflix announces new Kennedy family series One of America’s most famous families is getting the Netflix treatment.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At present, an interstitial pop-up advertises Reishi as 25 percent off; purchasing six sheets or more unlocks 50 percent off.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Oct. 2025
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Tracfone advertises download speeds ranging from 20 to 200Mbps and uploads of 3 to 15Mbps for this service.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Loom is a tech platform that connects users with designers to upcycle unworn clothes, PulpaTronics produces metal-free, chip-less RFID paper tags and Renasens creates waterless, chemical-free technology that turns blended textile waste into raw materials.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
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Cocoa prices have more than doubled over the past two years because of poor weather and blights in West Africa, which produces more than 70% of the world’s cocoa.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brandishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandishes. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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