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
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Recent Examples of brushes
Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
This includes wool and metal brushes.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
Students who want to paint must buy their own brushes and panels, but all oil paint is provided.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
Her last film was ensemble dark comedy Dear Paris in which several of the city’s residents are interconnected by different brushes with death.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 June 2026
On the one hand, traffickers are helping fuel the violent crime that conservatives decry; on the other, prosecution of gun laws brushes against tenets that conservatives hold sacrosanct.
—Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 1 June 2026
Use it to clean makeup brushes and sponges both gently and effectively.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
For pet hair or stains, bring your indoor vacuum outside to use the turbo brushes and handheld rods.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2026
The brand’s launch included complexion and lip products, as well as brushes.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
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
Elizabeth Scott brushes off the comparison.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Judy brushes him off and leads the way to Cabin Twelve.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Noun
One zippered side pocket is great for organizing makeup and brushes, and the other one has a water-resistant sleeve to stash wet items.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
This includes wool and metal brushes.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
Students who want to paint must buy their own brushes and panels, but all oil paint is provided.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
Her last film was ensemble dark comedy Dear Paris in which several of the city’s residents are interconnected by different brushes with death.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 June 2026
On the one hand, traffickers are helping fuel the violent crime that conservatives decry; on the other, prosecution of gun laws brushes against tenets that conservatives hold sacrosanct.
—Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 1 June 2026
Use it to clean makeup brushes and sponges both gently and effectively.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
For pet hair or stains, bring your indoor vacuum outside to use the turbo brushes and handheld rods.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2026
The brand’s launch included complexion and lip products, as well as brushes.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Verb
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
Elizabeth Scott brushes off the comparison.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Judy brushes him off and leads the way to Cabin Twelve.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes
Noun
-
Others got flung toward the accreting planet by collisions or close encounters with other objects, and Jupiter played a key role in that process.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Space.com,
17 June 2026
-
Although he was initially disappointed by South Korea's early exit, those encounters gave him a new perspective.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Oil futures have dropped and gas prices have eased on optimism that flows through the Strait of Hormuz will pick up now that the US-Iran agreement has been signed.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
Goldman Sachs cut its oil price forecast Tuesday, projecting Brent to average $80 in late 2026 and $75 in 2027, citing a faster-than-expected recovery in Persian Gulf crude flows.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Everyone offers their name and kisses everyone else, and women scrape their lipstick off other people’s cheeks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
Sofia Carson blows kisses to the camera during the amfAR Gala Cannes 2026 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 21.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
The body then glides over the top of the windshield and starts flipping through the air over the roof.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
-
Directed by Child and filmed in Whack’s hometown of Philadelphia, the song’s black-and-white visuals transform familiar city streets into a monochrome maze where Whack glides through scenes with the oozing confidence of someone ready to reclaim her narrative.—
Sophie Miller,
Rolling Stone,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The decision to move elections to November shaves several months off the existing terms of the mayor, vice mayor and commissioners.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
-
For beard trims and shaves, go to Pisterzi in Soho.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the ship sails the Antarctic Peninsula, passengers go on excursions, such as taking a Zodiac or kayaking, to view wildlife and immerse themselves in nature.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
Before the quartet of late November and December holiday sailings begins, the ship sails an almost identical route along the Seine between March and November.—
Chrissie McClatchie,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The Los Angeles guitarist and songwriter touches on grief, rejection, and love in lo-fi shoegaze songs that package sunny melodies with comforting gloom.—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
23 June 2026
-
Let guests arrive, grab drinks and catch up before anyone touches a rulebook.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
Romantic Venus drifts through your 12th House of Solitude and Healing, forming a sextile to radical Uranus in your 10th House of Career, so private reflection can shape bold improvements.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
-
Many spots in Bali do these well, but The Seed fully embraces the pleasure of showering beneath open skies while warm evening air drifts through tropical greenery.—
Arion McNicoll,
TheWeek,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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