brush-off 1 of 2

as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly the mayor tends to give anyone under voting age the brush-off

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brush (off)

2 of 2

verb

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 (off)
Verb
Initially, Makua gave Momoa's offer a polite brush-off. Janee Bolden, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025 Some interpreted the moment as a blatant brush-off; however, others pointed out that Brigitte, 72, could simply have been focused on keeping her balance on the airplane steps or preparing herself to greet the Prince and Princess of Wales. Meredith Kile, People.com, 8 July 2025 But our findings suggest that the mere inclusion of abbreviations, although seemingly benign, start feeling like a brush-off. David Fang, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025 But there are now pressing concerns over whether Trump will pull the U.S. from the alliance as part of his broader brush-off of America's allies—and whether the remaining nations of the Five Eyes could survive it. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025 Alumi-Blast is an apt name for this low sheen coating that looks realistically like cast aluminum that has received a light brush-off abrasive blast at the factory. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 26 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush (off)
Noun
  • The director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, Sergio Gor, announced Shogan’s dismissal in February on social media.
    Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Attorneys argued in court Thursday morning over Trauernicht’s request for the diversion program, which could result in the dismissal of his felony charge for the alleged crime.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If the Yankees cannot shrug off the 2-0 series deficit, then Boone could be in hot water, especially with the pair of embarrassing losses to the Blue Jays.
    Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The rich pump money into the economy, allowing the stock market to shrug off any signs of underlying weakness.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The matter-of-fact rebuff feels very French, very Oklou.
    Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2025
  • There was a unilateral rebuff toward the idea that the industry is experiencing a drummer shortage in general.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But those early rejections didn’t destroy their confidence.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
  • This over-enthusiasm can backfire, leading to rejection.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Lopez — who received a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nomination for the role, among other accolades — acknowledged the disappointment of the snub in her 2022 Netflix documentary Halftime.
    Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
  • However, the video also shows King Charles and Kate Middleton sitting down while the guests clapped, which people are interpreting as a snub.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The letter also called for the return of mandatory standardized testing in university admissions and for universities to report the anonymous scores and grades of accepted and rejected students.
    Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • In a June ruling, a three-judge Kansas Court of Appeals panel rejected Kobach’s arguments in no uncertain terms.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Seven of those charged previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and prosecutors moved to dismiss their felony counts.
    Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Olguin dismissed the case in 2022 after finding Elden’s claims were time-barred without addressing the substance of his allegations.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By 1845, Marx was scorning his colleagues for floating in the clouds.
    Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The scorelessness has turned to scorn, too.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brush (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush%20%28off%29. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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