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
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Use it to clean makeup brushes and sponges both gently and effectively.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
There are plenty of reasons to give gifts—from skincare and makeup gift sets that never disappoint to chic little trinkets, luxe hair brushes, and high-tech gadgets, there are more than enough options to keep you from ever resorting to a random gift card again.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
Bermuda – now under a hurricane warning – faces a rare one-two punch from the storms, as Humberto brushes by the archipelago Tuesday followed by a direct hit from Imelda.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Among the highlights of this section is the Milano beauty trunk, with its striking array of white geometric brushes set against a red lining.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2025
Paddle-style hot brushes and comb hot-air brushes often don’t blow out hot air to dry your hair.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Avoiding accidental brushes with strangers, especially while sitting in the middle or aisle seat, is practically impossible, but having just one layer between me and everyone else can be sufficient for maintaining my sanity.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025
There are specific brushes suited for specific dogs, as each breed has different fur types.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
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
The water is perfectly clear — until someone brushes the side of the cave or disturbs the soft bottom, sending fine silt particles billowing into the beam of a headlamp.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Steven brushes off Taylor’s advances and considers going into business with Denise.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
And yet, the overall package proves overly familiar, despite brushes of excellence scattered throughout.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Use it to clean makeup brushes and sponges both gently and effectively.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
There are plenty of reasons to give gifts—from skincare and makeup gift sets that never disappoint to chic little trinkets, luxe hair brushes, and high-tech gadgets, there are more than enough options to keep you from ever resorting to a random gift card again.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
Bermuda – now under a hurricane warning – faces a rare one-two punch from the storms, as Humberto brushes by the archipelago Tuesday followed by a direct hit from Imelda.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Among the highlights of this section is the Milano beauty trunk, with its striking array of white geometric brushes set against a red lining.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2025
Paddle-style hot brushes and comb hot-air brushes often don’t blow out hot air to dry your hair.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Avoiding accidental brushes with strangers, especially while sitting in the middle or aisle seat, is practically impossible, but having just one layer between me and everyone else can be sufficient for maintaining my sanity.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2025
There are specific brushes suited for specific dogs, as each breed has different fur types.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
The water is perfectly clear — until someone brushes the side of the cave or disturbs the soft bottom, sending fine silt particles billowing into the beam of a headlamp.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Steven brushes off Taylor’s advances and considers going into business with Denise.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes
encounters
Noun
-
Marty has a series of bad encounters.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Eddie Nketiah’s stoppage-time winner last weekend balanced the scales of the past seven Premier League encounters between the sides — two victories each, plus three draws.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share