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.
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Recent Examples of brushes
Emily Orofino, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
As disarming as Rockwell is with his wry balance of doofus, savant and wiseass, and as capable as Verbinski is at keeping the brushes with death coming at a sustained pace, the movie feels most original in its flashbacks.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026
The tiny ones are fantastic for holding small cleaning supplies, such as pumice stones, stain sticks, and brushes.
—Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 1 Feb. 2026
For a band that has spent so much of its career in relative obscurity, the Blue Nile have had disproportionate brushes with fame.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 1 Feb. 2026
Mini candle jars can be used as paint cups too, or filled with water for rinsing artist brushes.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Kandi Koated Makeup Brushes Set Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kandi Burruss created this travel case that snaps open to reveal seven makeup brushes.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Alas, her brushes with athletic brilliance proved fleeting.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Snow brushes are less abrasive than some materials.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
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
If the doctor brushes you off or looks at their watch, get a new doctor!
—Kat McGowan, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … NO LAUGHING MATTER – White House brushes off SNL season premiere, calling show 'waste' of time.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 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
Noun
To wit, lymphatic brushes join the ranks of depuffing tools like gua shas, face rollers, and dry brushes; most working to stimulate lymphatic drainage, your body’s natural detoxification process.
—Emily Orofino, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
As disarming as Rockwell is with his wry balance of doofus, savant and wiseass, and as capable as Verbinski is at keeping the brushes with death coming at a sustained pace, the movie feels most original in its flashbacks.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026
The tiny ones are fantastic for holding small cleaning supplies, such as pumice stones, stain sticks, and brushes.
—Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 1 Feb. 2026
For a band that has spent so much of its career in relative obscurity, the Blue Nile have had disproportionate brushes with fame.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 1 Feb. 2026
Mini candle jars can be used as paint cups too, or filled with water for rinsing artist brushes.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Kandi Koated Makeup Brushes Set Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kandi Burruss created this travel case that snaps open to reveal seven makeup brushes.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Alas, her brushes with athletic brilliance proved fleeting.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Snow brushes are less abrasive than some materials.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
If the doctor brushes you off or looks at their watch, get a new doctor!
—Kat McGowan, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … NO LAUGHING MATTER – White House brushes off SNL season premiere, calling show 'waste' of time.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes
encounters
Noun
-
Montaner’s cinematic life was filled with encounters with political figures and world leaders and friendships with writers like Mario Vargas Llosa and his son Alvaro Vargas Llosa, and Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza.—
Sarah Moreno
February 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Feb. 2026
-
In fact, a University of Chicago analysis found that departments using bodycams saw a 10% drop in all use-of-force encounters.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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