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
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
All the brushes being recalled have plastic or wood handles that measure between 12 and 21 inches long.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Accessories Handheld vacuums may come with various accessories that can add to their functionality, most commonly crevice tools and dusting brushes.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Some brushes have also been found on resell sites like eBay.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
Keep brushes in a clean, dry place, away from humidity or direct sunlight for best preservation.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
Which vibrating skin brushes are best?
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
As the years passed, Sarah also had brushes with law enforcement.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 29 Dec. 2024
Shop crevice brushes that reach the tightest corners, dryer vent cleaning kits, and more, starting at just $8.
—Euna Park, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Dec. 2024
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
Elizabeth Scott brushes off the comparison.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
If someone does bring up his teary picture, Wallake brushes it off.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
Judy brushes him off and leads the way to Cabin Twelve.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
With this new insight in hand, Carol brushes herself off and heads back to the hospital to visit Zosia and ask her directly if there’s any way to reverse the Joining.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
When Damien recognizes the photo from a news clipping, Adam brushes it off, claiming the man is his half-brother.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
They can be used to wipe down your phone, buff out shoe scuffs, remove smudges on eyeglass lenses, clean product off of your makeup brushes, and so much more.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
All the brushes being recalled have plastic or wood handles that measure between 12 and 21 inches long.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Accessories Handheld vacuums may come with various accessories that can add to their functionality, most commonly crevice tools and dusting brushes.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Some brushes have also been found on resell sites like eBay.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
Keep brushes in a clean, dry place, away from humidity or direct sunlight for best preservation.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
Which vibrating skin brushes are best?
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
As the years passed, Sarah also had brushes with law enforcement.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 29 Dec. 2024
Shop crevice brushes that reach the tightest corners, dryer vent cleaning kits, and more, starting at just $8.
—Euna Park, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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
Elizabeth Scott brushes off the comparison.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
If someone does bring up his teary picture, Wallake brushes it off.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
Judy brushes him off and leads the way to Cabin Twelve.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
With this new insight in hand, Carol brushes herself off and heads back to the hospital to visit Zosia and ask her directly if there’s any way to reverse the Joining.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
When Damien recognizes the photo from a news clipping, Adam brushes it off, claiming the man is his half-brother.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes
encounters
Noun
-
About 20 minutes later the officers, who recognized the defendant from prior encounters, returned to the area with an Orange County probation officer to look for Trinidad, prosecutors said.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
-
In most encounters between bears and people, the bears are typically trying to defend their food, cubs or space.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
