as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026
Unlike the other two new breeds, Bolonki's coats require brushing several times a week to prevent matting.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
When brushing out curls, do so on damp hair after first applying a curl cream.
—Omenaa Boakye, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Try brushing it over bread before toasting or using it for sautéing or roasting vegetables.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 29 Dec. 2025
One primary concern is the risk of brushing too hard, which can damage enamel and irritate gums.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 25 Dec. 2025
Daily baguette runs to the local bakery – an errand that Anract says used to be as automatic and ritualistic as brushing teeth – have become less frequent.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
For tiny dogs, an overly large brush can make brushing an unpleasant experience for them.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Hasan’s team tested the regenerated tissue under real-world conditions such as brushing, chewing, and exposure to acidic foods.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
Rinse the sink well after brushing your teeth and use a disposable disinfecting wipe to wipe out the sink and clean the faucet hardware quickly.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026
Unlike the other two new breeds, Bolonki's coats require brushing several times a week to prevent matting.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
When brushing out curls, do so on damp hair after first applying a curl cream.
—Omenaa Boakye, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Try brushing it over bread before toasting or using it for sautéing or roasting vegetables.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 29 Dec. 2025
One primary concern is the risk of brushing too hard, which can damage enamel and irritate gums.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 25 Dec. 2025
Daily baguette runs to the local bakery – an errand that Anract says used to be as automatic and ritualistic as brushing teeth – have become less frequent.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
For tiny dogs, an overly large brush can make brushing an unpleasant experience for them.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Hasan’s team tested the regenerated tissue under real-world conditions such as brushing, chewing, and exposure to acidic foods.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushing. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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