brushes (off)

verb

present tense third-person singular of brush (off)
as in shrugs off

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes (off)
  1. shrugs off
  2. rejects
  3. dismisses
  4. scorns
Verb
  • The team shrugs off criticism that the end result was overbudget and overdue.
    — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 20 June 2026
  • Once again, Rodrigo shrugs off concern.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Definition of shrugs off
Verb
  • The director rejects aspects of modernity in his personal life, too.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
  • Conversely, when a judge rejects a motion for an injunction, companies can move to complete a takeover deal quickly.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of rejects
Verb
  • While significant layoffs swept ESPN, the article dismisses speculation that high-profile contracts, such as Pat McAfee's, were the direct cause of Ravech's unexpected departure.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • One automatically ascribes fraud to results that are often predictable, even routine; the other dismisses legitimate concerns as conspiracy theories.
    — Andrew E. Busch, The Conversation, 23 July 2026
Definition of dismisses
Verb
  • At a raucous commission meeting Tuesday, City Manager Rickelle Williams faced a storm of withering accusations in her initial job evaluation — mostly from Mayor Dean Trantalis, who eagerly supported hiring Williams last year but now scorns her in public.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
  • In character as a free spirit who scorns social convention, Davis is all haughty tosses of the head and sneering lines.
    — Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of scorns
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.

Browse Nearby Words

brushes (aside or off)
brushes (off)
brush fire
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Cite this Entry

“Brushes (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes%20%28off%29. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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