as in waving
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
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brandishing
Police body camera footage released by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General Inspector showed Walker brandishing a knife and raised the blade toward a policeman who had fallen over during a scuffle in the apartment involving Walker and his family members.
—
Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
Within minutes, an armed gunman, brandishing two weapons, killed three people and injured 15 others.
—Austin American-Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet despite all the characters brandishing weapons, the only person in the entire series who seems capable of getting away with murder is Jeff Wentworth, a former Texas state senator who objects to an imposing wall that his neighbor Alexa has constructed around her property, in San Antonio.
—Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Videos of the incident did not show Pretti brandishing a gun.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November 2025 in Los Angeles federal court to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (known as a Hobbs Act offense) and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence.
—City News Service, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Atlanta police on Tuesday shot a man who approached an officer while brandishing a knife on a Buckhead road, officials said.
—Vanessa McCray, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Multiple videos of the altercation did not show Pretti ever brandishing or reaching for the weapon.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
Within minutes, an armed gunman, brandishing two weapons, killed three people and injured 15 others.
—Austin American-Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet despite all the characters brandishing weapons, the only person in the entire series who seems capable of getting away with murder is Jeff Wentworth, a former Texas state senator who objects to an imposing wall that his neighbor Alexa has constructed around her property, in San Antonio.
—Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Videos of the incident did not show Pretti brandishing a gun.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November 2025 in Los Angeles federal court to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (known as a Hobbs Act offense) and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence.
—City News Service, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Atlanta police on Tuesday shot a man who approached an officer while brandishing a knife on a Buckhead road, officials said.
—Vanessa McCray, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Multiple videos of the altercation did not show Pretti ever brandishing or reaching for the weapon.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandishing
Verb
-
Extreme thoughtfulness went into the property built on the site of a former prominent elementary school, with some of its sakura (cherry blossom) and Japanese maple trees now waving in the breeze after being carefully moved pre-construction and replanted upon completion.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Those monthslong rallies were marked by a festive atmosphere and a striking blend of politics and pop culture, with protesters singing and waving colorful K-pop light sticks, and ended without major safety accidents.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Country Music Association revealed its 2026 inductees for the hall of fame this week, announcing that McGraw was tapped for the modern era artist category, along with The Stanley Brothers for the veteran era artist category and Paul Overstreet for the songwriter category.—
Melonee Hurt,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
-
After announcing earlier this week that Jay-Z and The Roots will headline this year’s Roots Picnic on May 30 and May 31 in Philadelphia in its new home in Belmont Plateau, the R&B/hip-hop festival revealed the full lineup on Friday morning (March 20).—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandishing. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
