Synonyms of brushes

brushes 1 of 3

noun

plural of brush

as in encounters

a brief clash between enemies or rivals

the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded

Synonyms & Similar Words

• encounters
• skirmishes
• fights
• scrapes
• arguments
• quarrels
• brawls
• run-ins
• spats
• battles
• tiffs
• hassles
• squabbles
• rows
• wrangles
• frays

brushes

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of brush

as in flows

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flows
• glides
• sails
• drifts
• bowls
• sweeps
• cruises
• slides
• streams
• slips
• rolls
• races
• speeds
• flies
• rushes
• whisks
• coasts
• breezes
• skims

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggles
• stamps
• flounders
• stumbles
• trudges
• shuffles
• limps
• plods
• stumps
• lumbers
• stomps
• tramps
• toils
• labors
• shambles

brushes

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of brush

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

• kisses
• shaves
• touches
• nudges
• caresses
• strokes
• skims
• grazes
• scrapes
• contacts
• pats
• sweeps
• bumps
• misses
• swipes
• skips
• strikes
• rebounds
• glances
• pets
• cuddles
• loves
• bounces
• fondles
• skirts
• sideswipes
• ricochets
• caroms

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hits
• knocks
• impacts
• slaps
• punches
• bangs
• clashes
• swipes
• bumps
• slams
• rams
• smashes
• impinges
• smacks
• crashes
• collides
• whacks
• thwacks
• bashes
• thuds

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of brushes

Noun

Dry brushes made with boar-hair bristles are ideal for daily use and exfoliation. — Hannah Coates, Vogue, 7 Nov. 2026

Dozens took up paint rollers and brushes before dispersing through the neighborhoods around their schools. — ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026

In accessories, the brand has a strong leadership position with its makeup brushes. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026

Alongside her scientifically credible poisoning scenarios, numerous doctors and pharmacists appear in Christie’s novels — sometimes as victims, other times as murderers — showing how her early brushes with the world of medicine never left her mind. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026

And with holiday parties right around the corner, there's never been a better time to break out your makeup brushes! — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 26 Oct. 2026

The case marks the latest legal challenge for Peters, whose internet notoriety crossed into the mainstream after previous brushes with the law. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

The group takes historic properties and brushes off the dust to reveal their splendor. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Steel Wool and Scouring Pads First and foremost, any cleaning expert will tell you to steer clear of common cleaning tools like steel wool, scouring pads, and rough brushes to clean your stainless steel. — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 28 Sep. 2026

Verb

After changing into his stage costume, V brushes his teeth and catches RM doing elaborate frog-pose stretches to limber up for the high-energy performance. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026

There is humiliation here, claustrophobia, physical vulnerability and an intimacy that occasionally brushes against the erotic. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Lavrov brushes off German diplomat Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was dismissive after the meeting in New York, which was held at German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s request. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

Vicki brushes it off, and even Shannon can’t defend her friend’s callousness. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Fertitta brushes off the scuffle between his president and Meloni. — CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

During a penumbral eclipse, the moon merely brushes this outer zone and often appears only subtly dimmed. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Flagrantly practicing an especially ribald strain of cringe comedy that brushes several third rails, often simultaneously, the show could have been a disastrous gambit. — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Soon after Sally brushes off the comments, her daughters are introduced. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026