as in flows
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in kisses
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 brushes
Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Because brushes are so much more hygienic than sponges.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
As womenswear designer for the incendiary British talent’s signature label, those were her first brushes with the storied French couture house.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
After brushes with Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Idalia in 2023, last year brought one of Southwest Florida’s most intense hurricane seasons on record.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Jamaica braces for rare direct hurricane hit While Jamaica has had numerous brushes with hurricanes over the years, a direct hit, like the one Hurricane Melissa looks likely to inflict, are rare.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Our editors have tested just about every hair product out there—from treatments for damaged hair to round brushes—and some of our all-time favorites are currently marked down.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
Merlino had frequent brushes with the law throughout his early life, and in 1989 was convicted of an armored truck heist in which more than $350,000 was stolen, according to the Courier Post.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Automatic car wash brushes can collect dirt and small rocks that scratch your car.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Kat McGowan, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … NO LAUGHING MATTER – White House brushes off SNL season premiere, calling show 'waste' of time.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
But on the day of Dale’s memorial, everyone brushes their hair, puts on the right clothes, and plays big, grieving family.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Despite the mess in her apartment, the man, like everyone else in her life, brushes off her fears as the exaggerations of an overactive imagination.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Fog brushes the bluffs like a tide turned into vapor.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Mayor brushes off turmoil amid scandals Adams became the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted on criminal charges last fall after federal prosecutors accused him of taking lavish flights and hotel stays from Turkish businessmen and officials for more than a decade.
—ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Many people only think of insects as pollinators, but pollen also can be spread by a furry chipmunk or even a human who brushes by a low-growing flower and picks up pollen on her shoe.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Henry brushes it off as a nightmare; after Bug moves on, Beauchamp strokes the medallion and sings himself to sleep.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
While there are no ghosts of twin girls in blue dresses, guests often claim to have experienced brushes with the supernatural.
—Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Because brushes are so much more hygienic than sponges.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
As womenswear designer for the incendiary British talent’s signature label, those were her first brushes with the storied French couture house.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
After brushes with Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Idalia in 2023, last year brought one of Southwest Florida’s most intense hurricane seasons on record.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Jamaica braces for rare direct hurricane hit While Jamaica has had numerous brushes with hurricanes over the years, a direct hit, like the one Hurricane Melissa looks likely to inflict, are rare.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Our editors have tested just about every hair product out there—from treatments for damaged hair to round brushes—and some of our all-time favorites are currently marked down.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
Merlino had frequent brushes with the law throughout his early life, and in 1989 was convicted of an armored truck heist in which more than $350,000 was stolen, according to the Courier Post.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Automatic car wash brushes can collect dirt and small rocks that scratch your car.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
If the doctor brushes you off or looks at their watch, get a new doctor!
—Kat McGowan, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … NO LAUGHING MATTER – White House brushes off SNL season premiere, calling show 'waste' of time.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
But on the day of Dale’s memorial, everyone brushes their hair, puts on the right clothes, and plays big, grieving family.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Despite the mess in her apartment, the man, like everyone else in her life, brushes off her fears as the exaggerations of an overactive imagination.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Fog brushes the bluffs like a tide turned into vapor.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Mayor brushes off turmoil amid scandals Adams became the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted on criminal charges last fall after federal prosecutors accused him of taking lavish flights and hotel stays from Turkish businessmen and officials for more than a decade.
—ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Many people only think of insects as pollinators, but pollen also can be spread by a furry chipmunk or even a human who brushes by a low-growing flower and picks up pollen on her shoe.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Henry brushes it off as a nightmare; after Bug moves on, Beauchamp strokes the medallion and sings himself to sleep.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes
encounters
Noun
-
The novella unspools Hamida’s subsequent encounters with other disadvantaged women.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Trump has denied all of the encounters.—
Molly Crane Newman,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share