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
  • 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
  • Exxon was far from alone in its historical awareness of CO₂ and rigorous research into its ongoing ecological impacts—and in its subsequent shift toward dismissing or denying the veracity of its own science.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Developer Senko Rasic argued in post that went viral - that dismissing coding as never having been the hard part insults programmers.
    — Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismissing
Verb
  • Following fan outcry, Warners then decided to explore offers to sell it, only to — after rejecting various bids — seemingly take it off the market.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Thurmond offered only a brief explanation for rejecting the appeal, leaving the decision somewhat at odds with the state’s separate finding that the teachers agreement would have improved the district’s financial position.
    — Chaewon Chung August 11, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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