brush (off) 1 of 2

Definition of brush (off)next

brush-off

2 of 2

noun

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
The comment has done little to settle the debate, with fans remaining divided on whether to take her denial seriously or read it as a playful brush-off. Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026 But his subtle brush-off of Collins is a sign of the cocky and brash kid already beginning to emerge — the same one who could cut down people down to size on his way to redefining himself and jolting both the New York folk scene and the world of pop at large. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush (off)
Verb
  • His campaign shrugged off the unflattering survey data.
    Matthew Kelly Updated June 26, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026
  • Lionel Messi showcased his legendary resilience, powering Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Iraq with two goals, shrugging off an early penalty kick miss.
    Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Despite her dismissal, Keyser appeared in the first 20 minutes of Thursday’s episode, sharing a chat and a kiss with partner Zach Georgiou, and later slept in the bed with him.
    Arushi Jacob, Variety, 26 June 2026
  • Following Mendoza's dismissal, fan anger seems to be directed at Stearns, the man in charge of building the roster.
    Doug Williams, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Those seeking to stop the roundup reject almost all of the federal agencies’ claims, from the size of the herd to the notion that the horses cause ecological damage.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
    Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Despite the Reina Sofía’s many refusals to lend the work to various institutions around the world, its rebuff of the Guggenheim’s request carries a particular sting because the Basque Country has long held that the painting belongs in the place where the depicted tragedy occurred.
    News Desk, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The latest rebuff of state overreach was the dismissal last week of the highly questionable felony case against respected Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly brought by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
    Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The firms asked the judge to dismiss the case Wednesday, arguing Uber had failed to prove fraud.
    Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • Delta denied this in its legal response, seeking to dismiss the case.
    Emma Hurt, AJC.com, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Social and physical pain share overlapping circuitry in the brain, and a large-scale meta-analysis identified the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex as the region most reliably activated by social rejection, the same region most associated with the experience of pain itself.
    Juliette Han, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • At the end of the day, the college audition process has rejection.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • That lineage become a source of attention and scorn for the 33-year-old first time candidate, who created what critics called out as a sometimes outlandish social media personality to generate attention.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • Gerardo Ortiz What’s a música mexicana festival without a bit of yearning and scorned romance?
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Among them… What would be the biggest snub?
    Naomi Jeffries, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026
  • Tuesday’s episode opened with a news-making conversation with Harry Maguire, a controversial snub from England’s roster, before pivoting to discussion of the previous day’s matches.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 17 June 2026

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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 1 Jul. 2026.

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