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

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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
Makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes softens the edges of a bold red lip with a brush in Vogue’s reporting on the halo lip, showing the technique isn’t just for pale or neutral shades. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026 Makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes softens the edges of a bold red lip with a brush for the halo lip, Vogue reported, showing the technique works beyond pale or neutral shades. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
And Trump has been able to brush off a lot of other unsavory behavior and associations. — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 28 Oct. 2026 Risch initially shook the challenger’s hand, then pulled back and brushed past him. — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 27 Oct. 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
  • The nearby Giraffe Centre offers intimate encounters with these gentle giants.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Giuseppe Cascini, the chief prosecutor in the case, said that the police involved in the encounters had been sanctioned for their failure to intervene.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • None of us are big drinkers, but the beauty of the surroundings inspired the good times to flow, and, well, so did the wine.
    — Claudia Laroye, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The film follows those who profited from the huge sums that flowed from across Japan into the radiation clean-up of the Tohoku region.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • And yet, the ball still fell a few inches short, kissing the front of the United Center rim.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The friends made headlines several times over the years for so openly showing affection to each other, frequently kissing on the lips at red carpet events.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • At times jutting outward and at others gliding along the grain of electronic texture, Chen’s voice tracks the form of the instrumentals like a sculptor working in relief.
    — James Gui, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • It is carried to high speed and altitude by a rocket booster before separating and gliding through the atmosphere toward its target.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of glide
Verb
  • Those with a SacRT ticket or digital pass can get $2 shaved off their rink ticket fee.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • For pretty chocolate curls, warm a bar of milk chocolate in your pocket or hand, then shave with a sharp vegetable peeler.
    — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • But as the boat drifted nearby under a vast, cloudless sky, a pod of pink river dolphins broke the glassy, reflective surface just yards away, their rosy dorsal fins glistening in the late-afternoon sun.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The big rig traveling in the far right northbound lane of the highway drifted, for unknown reasons, into the right shoulder and hit both vehicles.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of drift
Verb
  • Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire's A and B shares both touched fresh highs on Tuesday.
    — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil also tumbled below $95 and touched its lowest level in two months.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of touch
Verb
  • The Democrats swept this week's midterm elections, taking majorities in the House and Senate and flipping governors' offices in places like Texas, Nevada and Iowa.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Democrats also swept all three available school board seats, just two years after Republican state lawmakers made the traditionally nonpartisan elections partisan, a change that Democratic candidates worried would put them at a disadvantage.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brush

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