BRUSHED Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words

brushed 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of brushed

as in rubbed

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

brushed

2 of 3

verb (1)

past tense of brush

as in flowed

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

brushed

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of brush

as in kissed

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

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 brushed

Adjective

Made with brushed microfiber that’s soft to the touch, each 20x30-inch queen-sized pillowcase is shrink- and fade-resistant, and comes in a variety of colors, too. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2025 The brushed interior feels soft directly against the skin, allowing this piece to be worn on its own, to boot. — Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 20 Jan. 2023

Verb

Jersey sheets have a cozy four-way stretch that feels like your favorite T-shirt, while long-staple sheets are brushed for plush durability and percale stays naturally cool and wicks moisture. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Chief executives of 737 Max 10 customers, Alaska Airlines and Ryanair, earlier this week brushed off concerns about the aircraft’s certification delays. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brushed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushed

Adjective

One imagines her sweeping through arched thresholds, the click-clack of heels echoing across the burnished parquet, or presiding over feasts at the baronial dining table.

— Donna Hardie-Scott, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Olive trees, desiccated from the Xylella fastidiosa bacterial epidemic, are consumed by fire and slump to the ground in a burnished black heap.

— Angelica Calabrese, Longreads, 7 July 2026

Definition of burnished

Verb

Star67, a private-dining concept, kept the crowd snacking on birthday cake bites and ice cream sundaes as the drinks flowed.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Material from both sides of this line flowed together to assemble the parent objects of Bennu, Ryugu and CI chondrites, with ice acting like glue to bond the fine dust particles together.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of flowed

Verb

Multiple fraternity members then entered the room, where one of the newcomers kissed her without her consent, and one of the first three men commanded her to take more ketamine and groped her, according to the complaint.

— Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
Where a milk chocolate brown once kissed and colored her long, blended layers, a dark brown — almost black — shade now stood.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of kissed

Adjective

Widely recognized as London’s oldest luxury hotel, updates like glossy marble bathrooms, vibrant textiles, and mahogany walk-in closets have breathed new life into this historic stay.

— Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
The nails were painted a sharp, glossy red, while the same shade traced the inside of her eyes, with lashings of mascara that added to the dramatic effect.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of glossy

Verb

After the young widow stepped back behind the black curtains, where scoops of mint chocolate chip in disposable bamboo bowls drifted through a room of donors and White House staffers, the evening moved from celebration to wake.

— Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026
Now Alicia, a New York dame, drifted over to the orange jackets.

— Anand Giridharadas, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of drifted

Adjective

Back in 2017, the family invested more than $100 million into the hotel in preparation of the 35th America’s Cup—an extensive multi-year renovation that shined up an already glistening property.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Instead, everyone in the main room is dancing under a glistening disco ball to the syncopations of Riva, a three-piece comprised of a psychedelic saxophonist, drummer and keyboardist.

— Mary Carreon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of glistening

Verb

The pinkish squid glided two miles beneath the surface, its long, pale legs trailing from undulating fins, stunning scientists who know remarkably little about its diet, behavior or reproduction.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Merino glided away from challenges to keep Arsenal in control.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of glided

Cite this Entry

Style

“Brushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushed. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of brushed

adjective

verb (1)

verb (2)

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Luddite

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes