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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of brushing
Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
In my test shot, a sneaker remained, but brushing over it re-created the rocks underfoot.
—
Michael Muchmore,
PC Magazine,
29 June 2026
Investigators and consumer protection groups have warned that empty envelopes and mystery packages can be tied to a scam known as brushing.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
After brushing your dog or cat, sprinkle it over the fur and work it in.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
Gentler hair care practices Caring for your postpartum hair can be as simple as brushing it mindfully.
—
Parents,
25 June 2026
And, of course, Vitello finished the circus by brushing the whole thing under the rug.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
Each style was crafted from leather treated with manual washing, brushing and finishing techniques.
—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
21 June 2026
Starting in third place on Sunday is Hamilton in the Ferrari, followed by teammate and home favorite Charles Leclerc who had to settle for P4 after brushing the wall while trying to retake P1 in the final moments of Q3.
—
Yara Elshebiny,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
Officials are advising anyone who experienced a water outage or low water pressure in the affected area to boil tap water before using it for drinking, cooking, preparing baby food or brushing their teeth.
—
Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
In my test shot, a sneaker remained, but brushing over it re-created the rocks underfoot.
—
Michael Muchmore,
PC Magazine,
29 June 2026
Investigators and consumer protection groups have warned that empty envelopes and mystery packages can be tied to a scam known as brushing.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
After brushing your dog or cat, sprinkle it over the fur and work it in.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
Gentler hair care practices Caring for your postpartum hair can be as simple as brushing it mindfully.
—
Parents,
25 June 2026
And, of course, Vitello finished the circus by brushing the whole thing under the rug.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
Each style was crafted from leather treated with manual washing, brushing and finishing techniques.
—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
21 June 2026
Starting in third place on Sunday is Hamilton in the Ferrari, followed by teammate and home favorite Charles Leclerc who had to settle for P4 after brushing the wall while trying to retake P1 in the final moments of Q3.
—
Yara Elshebiny,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushing
Verb
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There's a full rainbow of primal prints to explore, like this flowing calf-print caftan from Moroccan designer Fadila El Gadi.
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Venture funding is also flowing into European defense technology, such as drones and autonomous systems.
Verb
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When the Chiefs won, the Grammy winner joined Kelce on the field, kissing and hugging him.
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Cameras captured them kissing and hugging on the field after the game.
Verb
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And for the best views, get one of the small, stylish rooms on the fourth floor—you’ll be able to see the ships gliding by.
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Mars is spending the final days of the month gliding past the famous Pleiades star cluster (also known as the Seven Sisters) and this celestial encounter will not be this easy to see again for years.
Verb
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Right now, Amazon has it on sale for 13% off, shaving $20 off.
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Evert allowed cameras to accompany her to treatments and doctor appointments and document her son shaving off her hair after chemotherapy.
Verb
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The sequence started with Bosnian defender Stjepan Radeljic sliding in front of a Tillman pass, deflecting it forward toward Muharemovic.
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Some providers might work on a sliding fee scale, for example, which adjusts cost based on a patient’s household income and family size.
Verb
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Mora picked the ball up on halfway and just kept on motoring forward, moving towards two runners on the right, eventually nudging the ball through for Jorge Sanchez, who bundled the ball across for Quinones to finish.
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But the temperatures in Paris — with record highs for June nudging past 40 C (104 F) during the day and 25 C (77 F) at night — have been grueling.
Verb
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Without it, the experience risks drifting into the broad category of pretty resort dinner.
-
People often watch them with comments from other viewers drifting across their screens.
Verb
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Kwon moves fluidly from intimate memories of being a Korean American in Los Angeles to keen social critique, touching on body-shaming, mental health, the weight of Korea’s history, and the nuances of diaspora.
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There was something fun about touching a place with your own little finger.
Cite this Entry
“Brushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushing. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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