as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in kissing
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 brushing
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to one week; rewarm before tossing or brushing on any protein.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Use bottled or purified water for drinking and brushing your teeth when traveling or camping.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 5 Oct. 2025
To promote a healthy oral microbiome, the dentist recommends brushing and flossing regularly and performing consistent dental exams.
—Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Wall Street is brushing off recession risks and the ramifications of a government shutdown, with stocks at healthy highs and interest rate cuts expected soon.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Stylists crouch just out of frame, tugging seams, swapping earrings, brushing stray hairs from her face, while publicists hover nearby.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Touching the ancient stones and brushing off ceramics and coins untouched for nearly two thousand years made that world come vividly alive.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Stock indexes closed higher Monday, brushing off worries that mass layoffs could hit consumer spending or that a shutdown would preempt the release of Friday’s September jobs report.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Instead, let your hair air dry for 20 to 30 minutes and then use it starting at the root of your hair, brushing in a downward movement.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to one week; rewarm before tossing or brushing on any protein.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Use bottled or purified water for drinking and brushing your teeth when traveling or camping.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 5 Oct. 2025
To promote a healthy oral microbiome, the dentist recommends brushing and flossing regularly and performing consistent dental exams.
—Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Wall Street is brushing off recession risks and the ramifications of a government shutdown, with stocks at healthy highs and interest rate cuts expected soon.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Stylists crouch just out of frame, tugging seams, swapping earrings, brushing stray hairs from her face, while publicists hover nearby.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Touching the ancient stones and brushing off ceramics and coins untouched for nearly two thousand years made that world come vividly alive.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Stock indexes closed higher Monday, brushing off worries that mass layoffs could hit consumer spending or that a shutdown would preempt the release of Friday’s September jobs report.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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