BRUSH (OFF) Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

brush (off) 1 of 2

verb

Definition of brush (off)

as in to shrug off

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brush-off

2 of 2

noun

ˈbrəsh-ˌȯf

as in dismissal

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 (off)

Noun

That brush-off on top of Chris somehow edging her out of the Olympic team so that Tunde wound up as an alternate was too much not to go nuclear. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Oct. 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 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 See All Example Sentences for brush (off)

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush (off)

Verb

Investors, however, appeared to shrug off that concern -- at least with regard to some tech giants.

— Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
Haaland shrugged off a question about her various political identities in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

— Terry Tang, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of shrug off

Noun

Cruz said that the dismissal of the rising cost of living led Republicans to be unsuccessful this election cycle.

— Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
Now, the Seminoles quarterback is being turned to as a stabilizing presence in what has been a turbulent week, after coach Mike Norvell’s dismissal.

— Bob Ferrante, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of dismissal

Verb

California voters have twice rejected ballot measures to abolish the death penalty, first in 2012 and again in 2016, and Newsom’s decision overrides the will of the courts and state laws that permit capital punishment.

— Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Voters, in 2024, narrowly rejected a half-cent local sales tax measure that was estimated to generate about $19 million annually.

— Victoria Le, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of reject

Noun

Perhaps this accident of birth is connected to the subtle rebuff of modern life in Marcon’s films.

— Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
The rebuff contributes to the future civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, in which Rhaenyra battles her half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) for the seat of power.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026

Definition of rebuff

Verb

State officials dismissed the allegation as speculation but explicitly warned the Authority not to pay higher rates for work assigned to those $35-an-hour positions.

— Julie Watts, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
Insurance agent Ken McFeeters filed a lawsuit challenging the senator’s eligibility based on residency requirements, but the lawsuit was dismissed.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Noun

Democrats ousted Republicans from coast to coast, with many surprising places in between, in a decisive rejection of unified GOP control for the promise of something different for the country.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026
The Democratic wins in Texas and rejection of data centers in ballots across the country are expected to create hurdles for data center plays.

— Michelle Fox, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of rejection

Verb

But hell hath no fury like a Latino voter scorned and all this intimidation, in addition to a lack of follow-through on promises by Republican lawmakers since 2024, might have a boomerang effect by agitating Latinos into action.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Loneliness looms as a threat to all genders, but men, who are lauded for gruff stoicism and scorned for vulnerability, can be especially ill-equipped to navigate atomization.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of scorn

Noun

There will be those who insist the playoff snub is merely a convenient excuse for a coach who stopped recruiting effectively, stopped developing quarterbacks and stopped winning football games.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
Meta shareholders absorbed the snub, and a $25 billion jury verdict in a case stemming from the 2010s Cambridge Analytica episode, by temporarily sending the stock up 2% in after-hours trading Wednesday.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of snub

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brushing (off)

brush (off)

brush-off

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“Brush (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush%20%28off%29. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of brush (off)

verb

noun

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