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
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Recent Examples of brandishing
Boston Police arrested a 22-year-old on several gun charges after seeing a photo of the suspect allegedly brandishing a gun.
—
Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
The suit also asks to prevent DHS from threatening physical force and brandishing weapons.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2026
Activists and Iranians in the country are painting a different picture, saying security forces are openly brandishing military rifles and shooting civilians.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2026
Cut to 1904, and President Teddy Roosevelt brandishing his big stick, proclaiming his own corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
But should any table be celebrating a special event, the music suddenly goes to 11, and servers come out brandishing sparklers.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The suspect’s Instagram account, Henderson added, shows his messages with Emony and includes a post of him brandishing a gun.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
The role of Carmen was played with fiery promiscuity by ballerina Ariana Gonzalez, who was flirtatious with a fan in one scene and brandishing a knife in another.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
After all, Mamdani won by rejecting inertia and brandishing a vigorous optimism.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Dec. 2025
Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
The suit also asks to prevent DHS from threatening physical force and brandishing weapons.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2026
Activists and Iranians in the country are painting a different picture, saying security forces are openly brandishing military rifles and shooting civilians.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2026
Cut to 1904, and President Teddy Roosevelt brandishing his big stick, proclaiming his own corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
But should any table be celebrating a special event, the music suddenly goes to 11, and servers come out brandishing sparklers.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The suspect’s Instagram account, Henderson added, shows his messages with Emony and includes a post of him brandishing a gun.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
The role of Carmen was played with fiery promiscuity by ballerina Ariana Gonzalez, who was flirtatious with a fan in one scene and brandishing a knife in another.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
After all, Mamdani won by rejecting inertia and brandishing a vigorous optimism.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandishing
Verb
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Images shared by Bakersfield Search & Rescue appear to show the hiker — who was bundled up in a sweatshirt, sweatpants, puffer coat and hat — smiling and waving as someone photographed him after the rescue.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
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The dozens of signs waving in the cold winter air all expressed different concerns as people protested near Livernois Road and Walton Boulevard in Rochester Hills, Michigan.—
Julia Avant,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Presenter Hailee Steinfeld made her first red carpet appearance since announcing she and husband Josh Allen were expecting their first child together in a baby pink dress with a small train and Repossi jewelry.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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Anticipating the arrival of letters has become part of the rhythm of Helen’s day, part of the light shifting across the kitchen floor and the cuckoo of her wooden clock announcing every hour.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandishing. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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