brushing (off)

verb

present participle of brush (off)
as in winking (at)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushing (off)
  1. shrugging off
  2. dismissing
  3. rejecting
Verb
  • In Crystal Palace’s recent 2-2 away draw with Besiktas in the Europa League, the Frenchman intelligently read a backpass from defender Tiago Djalo before shrugging off a challenge and rifling the ball into the top corner.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • That shrugging off of the war was a common attitude among visitors to Boulevard City, organizers say.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of shrugging off
Verb
  • The video, which has resurfaced on social media ahead of the midterms, features older Americans dismissing issues such as gun violence and climate change while sarcastically encouraging young people to stay home on Election Day.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The usual suspects tried dismissing Jokic and Doncic as international players.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of dismissing
Verb
  • Or maybe voters weren't rejecting the idea of a wealth tax per se.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 10 Nov. 2026
  • In a small win for the defense, Sullivan issued a separate ruling rejecting the prosecution’s request for a gag order that would bar Clancy’s lawyers from speaking with the media about the case.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of rejecting
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

brushing (aside or off)
brushing (off)
brush (off)
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Cite this Entry

“Brushing (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushing%20%28off%29. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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