BRUSHING (OFF) Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

brushing (off)

verb

present participle of brush (off)

as in winking (at)

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushing (off)

Verb

Publicly, the White House is shrugging off the legal setbacks.

— Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
Paul said, referring to an interview Edwards did several years ago shrugging off the Phoenix Suns’ addition of Kevin Durant.

— Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of shrugging off

Verb

The two commissioners selected by congressional Democrats, Chairman Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, each received an email dismissing them on July 9.

— Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 10 July 2026
England went into the Mexico match inspired by having so many factors against them and with a lot of people dismissing their chances of winning the tournament.

— Carl Anka, New York Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of dismissing

Verb

El-Sayed has built his campaign around bold policy proposals, rejecting corporate PAC money and casting himself as an alternative to the status quo of the Democratic Party.

— Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Kalshi lost an attempt to override New York’s state gambling laws yesterday, with a federal judge rejecting the prediction market operator’s request to prevent enforcement of the rules.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026

Definition of rejecting

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“Brushing (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushing%20%28off%29. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of brushing (off)

verb

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