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

But on Tuesday, senators failed to advance the firms’ top legislative priority, shrugging off the threat of tens of millions of dollars that still could hit them this fall.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Part of it is that more women are speaking up about hair loss, shrugging off the stigma and reaching out for help.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of shrugging off

Verb

Now with Jane Doe recanting her claims, Carter’s attorneys have filed a notice to the judge, dismissing all claims against her — though their case against her former attorney, Buzbee, still stands.

— Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2026
In previous orders, Kiir has alarmed observers by dismissing important officials.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of dismissing

Verb

The former special counsel also cited former Vice President Mike Pence, who refused to go along with a plan to overturn the results of the 2020 election by rejecting the electoral votes of battleground states that Biden won.

— Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Throughout this same time, Rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse also continued to wear the Air Force 1 High sneakers while playing in the NBA — rejecting modern technology in favor for in-game footwear that was already two decades old.

— Olivia Cigliano, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 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 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of brushing (off)

verb

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