brush 1 of 3

noun

Definition of brushnext
as in encounter
a brief clash between enemies or rivals the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded

Synonyms & Similar Words

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brush

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

brush

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to kiss
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 brush
Noun
An interesting note about Prawdzik’s study is that where cover types could be recorded, 90 percent of the birds shot were flushed from aspen stands containing lowland-brush understories. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 The rest of the hair is then gathered into a small, pastry-like bun at the top of the head, with tendrils typically left out to frame the face or brush over one eye. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
White insisted Carrington had no bad intent, brushed it off as a routine hard foul, and apparently hoped everyone would just move along. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Ten tackles a game last season became as routine as brushing his teeth. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush
  1. encounter
  2. flow
  3. kiss
  4. glide
  5. shave
  6. drift
  7. touch
  8. sweep
Noun
  • One officer is now under investigation after the encounter at a neighborhood pool that led to arrests, allegations of excessive force, and calls for his firing.
    — Marissa Armas, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • As bears have become increasingly common in Connecticut, so have their encounters with humans.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • According to regulators, the investments all flowed through Spaventa.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Using the streams as indicators of the groundwater flowing beneath them, Campbell is building a model to identify the best potential sites in Idaho for a subsurface dam.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • Bear then passionately kisses Nikki, but soon collapses from the overdose and dies.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The hearty meat is just barely kissed with a bit of mayo; enough to give it some zing but not overpower the meat.
    — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • At showtime, video screens surrounding the stage began to glide upwards, revealing two familiar silhouettes, complete with dual doublenecks, shrouded by thick clouds of smoke.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • This monitor has a borderless display on three sides to prevent distractions, and it's equipped with a zippy 75Hz refresh rate so all your operations glide easily across the screen.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of glide
Verb
  • Mitchell would have needed to shave two shots from his score.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Samsung has successively shaved a few millimeters off every year, taking a leap last year with the Z Fold 7.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • If decisions about that work keep drifting toward people at spreadsheet distance from it, the mistakes will not land on them.
    — Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Reilly two-putted for par, and won the match when Cowan's par putt drifted to the right.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of drift
Verb
  • Onstage at the event, Bratt touched on the new movie’s storyline.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The recall announcement directed consumers to wash and sanitize any containers that may have come into contact with the affected product, and wash and sanitize hands and utensils that may have touched the product.
    — Mason Leib, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of touch
Verb
  • Meanwhile, in northern Greece, more than 300 vacationers and residents were evacuated by sea Thursday after a wildfire swept through a pine forest and threatened seaside homes, authorities said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Millions across the Midwest remain under flood watches early Friday as additional bouts of rain sweep through the flooded region where even modest rainfall could cause new problems.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweep

Phrases Containing brush

Browse Nearby Words

brunts
brush
brush (aside or off)
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Cite this Entry

“Brush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on brush

Nglish: Translation of brush for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brush

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