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
No Elliot Stabler wannabe brandishes fists in her face.
—
Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandishes
Verb
-
Based on the Tacoma pickup, the midsize 4Runner still waves the flag for the traditional SUV fans who want real off-road performance.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The snowy-haired Scot waves me into the passenger seat of his Can-Am Traxter with a huge grin and navigates us through the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town, famously anchored by mainland Britain’s most remote pub, the Old Forge.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the launch team announces a hold, this indicates a natural pause in the countdown, which is intended to allow for tasks to be performed or for a slight delay so that liftoff will align with a specific launch time that doesn’t disrupt the schedule.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The hard-throwing, 6-foot-6, 257-pound senior right-hander announces his presence with his first warmup pitch.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Over there, a framed poster advertises Ali’s big match with Frazier.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Warrior Week advertises an acceptance rate similar to that of an Ivy League school.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The essential insight is that while a single farmer produces far more food today than a century ago, the performing arts have not generally gotten more productive.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Tané McClure is directing the piece and also produces via her McClure Films, alongside producer Michelle Alexandria of Light Year Pictures.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandishes. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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