BRUSHES (OFF) Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

brushes (off)

verb

present tense third-person singular of brush (off)

as in shrugs off

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes (off)

Verb

Turkey’s government insists its courts are independent as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shrugs off European rulings, a stance that has already fueled a diplomatic clash with Western ambassadors over Kavala’s detention.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
The team shrugs off criticism that the end result was overbudget and overdue.

— Lauren Victory, CBS News, 20 June 2026

Definition of shrugs off

Verb

Salvage what creates value, discard what evidence rejects and rebuild around the problem that remains.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Slemmer’s mother, May Slemmer Martinez, supports Pike’s execution and rejects the suggestion that Pike’s age or traumatic upbringing should spare her.

— Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of rejects

Verb

If your team is afraid to name real weaknesses, or if leadership dismisses uncomfortable truths, the analysis won’t do what it’s meant to do.

— Nancy Padberg, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Risks, but not existential ones Not everyone dismisses the risk quite so bluntly, though.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 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

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“Brushes (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes%20%28off%29. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of brushes (off)

verb

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