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
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Ben-Gvir waves a large Israeli flag and tells the detainees.—
Nick Duffy,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
-
Then Boyd waves to a man passing the DJ booth window.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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As might be expected from one of Latin America’s most idiosyncratic innovators, the film’s title announces more than its obvious relationship to its predecessor.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
16 May 2026
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Cotton Bowl Athletic Association Names Marmion President, CEO The Cotton Bowl Athletic Association announces the selection of Dave Marmion as its next president and chief executive officer.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Dory advertises the sign with numerous use cases, including using it as a name placard for offices or apartments or to display QR codes.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 May 2026
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Coca-Cola advertises both Five Alive and Fruitopia for sale in Canada.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The field sparrow produces less of a song than a beat.—
Christopher Gangemi,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
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Adelstein and Clements are also executive producers on ABC’s Shifting Gears, and Adelstein executive produces Hulu’s upcoming Prison Break reboot.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandishes. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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