BRUSHES Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Noun

Wire grill brushes have long been considered the best of the best, and Pitmasters love how bristle brushes clean grates twice as fast, and more effectively, too. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026 Recent years of brushes with financial regulations have coincided with several long-term absentees, including Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 7 July 2026 Upgrade to brushes that deliver a flawless, streak-free makeup application. — ABC News, 6 July 2026 Hawaiian Tropic’s zinc oxide formula, a physical UV blocker, brushes on with a matte, translucent finish and leaves no white cast on most skin tones. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 1, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026 This year, over 13 million metal grill brushes have been recalled due to consumers reporting swallowing the bristles and requiring medical treatment. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Lymphatic facial brushes are gaining ground for daily routines because the fiber flex self-regulates pressure. — Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Earlier this year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled more than 13 million Weber and Nexgrill wire brushes. — Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Youthful brushes with fame can be exciting, but also overwhelming — and not necessarily sustainable. — Louis Peitzman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026

Verb

Out on 6th Avenue, a woman brushes by me holding a tiny white dog. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 4 July 2026 Johnson brushes off the skirmishes, broadly speaking, as part of the governing process. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Bryce Harper, star slugger, the Phillie Phanatic's best friend, and baseball hero to children of all ages, brushes his teeth. — CBS News, 28 May 2026 These stocks have climbed for weeks as the market brushes off the narrative that AI is a threat to the cybersecurity industry. — Morgan Chittum,matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 27 May 2026 Tokyo Stylez, Cardi’s hairstylist, brushes out a sleek brown hairpiece, and Erika la’ pearl, her makeup artist, dabs at Cardi’s face while the rapper scrolls through her phone, controlling the music. — Jazmine Hughes, Allure, 24 Mar. 2026 When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside. — Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026 At the Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Commander Tommy Nester finds it behind the ceiling panels, brushes it off the uniforms that aren’t behind glass and sweeps it from the baseboards of the main hall. — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026 See how his head brushes the sky. — Roey Leonardi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes

Noun

Several bison encounters resulted in injuries to Yellowstone tourists last year.

— Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 July 2026
In Mantzaris’ class, students eagerly debate Odysseus’ encounters with monsters and other adventures.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026

Definition of encounters

Verb

Air flows clockwise around these domes, but until now, none of them have been in quite the right spot to drag Canadian smoke south.

— Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
The Madison River originates inside Yellowstone National Park and flows 183 miles north through southwest Montana, flanked by the Madison Range, the Gravelly Mountains, and the Tobacco Root Mountains.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026

Definition of flows

Verb

The former couple was very public with their romance, posting photos from their getaways on Instagram and exchanging kisses at award shows.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 3 July 2026
There is some sort of tension after Olive hastily kisses Carlsen, who grabs her key-in badge to learn her name.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 27 June 2026

Definition of kisses

Verb

In any case, the scheme shaping the film’s stakes is introduced from the get-go, in a sultry opening credits scene where the camera glides over curly telephone cords and grasping hands in close-up.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 11 July 2026
As the Coast Starlight approaches the Bay Area, the train glides past marshlands, open water, and distant city skylines before continuing toward California’s Central Coast.

— Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026

Definition of glides

Verb

Its ceramic blades easily tackle coarse hair and its waterproof design makes in-shower shaves a breeze.

— Sara Coughlin, Allure, 5 July 2026
Zillow says that a pale pink bathroom could lose you up to $6,013, while a pale pink kitchen shaves an extra $4,201 off potential buyers' offers.

— Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2026

Definition of shaves

Verb

Victory Cruise Lines, which sails on the Great Lakes, says 2026 bookings are up more than 20 percent for itineraries such as a 10-night trip that sails on all five Great Lakes.

— Jane Wooldridge, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Star of the Seas still sails out of Port Canaveral, housing guests on what is tied for the title of world’s largest cruise ship.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026

Definition of sails

Verb

That gap between an anti-fraud rule and one that touches every American’s ability to communicate privately is forcing privacy experts to weigh in on the proposal’s implications.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Elsewhere, collections at Khaite, Dries Van Noten, and Loro Piana nodded to the golden age of the 1920s, incorporating elegant Art Deco touches throughout.

— Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 13 July 2026

Definition of touches

Verb

Light moves But the show’s action drifts beyond that focal point, up to the main plaza level, especially in its lighting.

— Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2026
Elsewhere, the conversation drifts into questions about public-records databases, investigative reporting, grant applications, and the ways institutions classify professional expertise.

— Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of drifts

Cite this Entry

Style

“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of brushes

noun

verb (1)

verb (2)

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