brush 1 of 3

noun

Definition of brushnext
as in encounter
a brief clash between enemies or rivals the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded

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brush

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

brush

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to kiss
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of brush
Noun
Front and rear scrubbers and a pair of side brushes help to loosen dirt and other debris. — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026 Investigators said glowing material fell into dry brush beneath the tower, igniting vegetation roughly 12 seconds later. — James Ward, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
Old and Unused Hairbrushes Got an old hairbrush that’s either accumulating dust from not being utilized or one that has been brushed through your hair about a million times? — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026 When the Wall Street Journal asked Alito about calls for his own retirement, Alito brushed it off as what happens with a role that is a lifelong appointment. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush
  1. encounter
  2. flow
  3. kiss
  4. glide
  5. shave
  6. drift
  7. touch
  8. sweep
Noun
  • One officer is now under investigation after the encounter at a neighborhood pool that led to arrests, allegations of excessive force, and calls for his firing.
    — Marissa Armas, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • As bears have become increasingly common in Connecticut, so have their encounters with humans.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • Some more images show Kidman, Bullock, 62, King, 26, and Williams, 29, wearing flowing gowns while hooked onto wires, seemingly filming a scene that involves flying, in front of a blue screen.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Exports flowing from Saudi ports have blunted some of the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure.
    — Fatma Khaled, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • In one night, Jowsey kisses 11 out of the 15 women left in the show, even bringing one of them up to his bedroom.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The musical retells the story of Heated Rivalry, this time telling the tale of hockey players who want to kiss and explore each other’s bodies from the perspective of the straight, female fans who turned it into a hit.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • Video from his dash camera shows the aircraft gliding under a highway sign, missing it by mere feet, before touching down in the empty lanes.
    — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The countless repetitions give you the most beautiful art form where swans glide, fairies dance and every year a giant nutcracker appears.
    — Chrissie Leong, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of glide
Verb
  • With competition so fierce in the race to build and release the latest AI models however, the expediency of shaving off every possible drag on speed trumps all.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Kath is competitive only about things that matter, like logging steps or shaving her legs, and the game had no bearing on her reality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • If decisions about that work keep drifting toward people at spreadsheet distance from it, the mistakes will not land on them.
    — Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Reilly two-putted for par, and won the match when Cowan's par putt drifted to the right.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of drift
Verb
  • The clock stops once the rider removes his hand from the rope or touches anything with his free arm.
    — Ava DiCecca, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The traditional farmhouse touches indoors and massive swimming pool don’t hurt its charm, either.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of touch
Verb
  • This marks mainland Europe's first total eclipse since 1999, with the path of totality sweeping from Russia, across the Arctic, Greenland, and Iceland, before culminating in Spain, a prime viewing destination.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Sky-gazers can watch for the spectacle when the path of totality sweeps through the northern tip of Russia, eastern Greenland, western Iceland, the northern half of Spain and northeast corner of Portugal.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweep

Phrases Containing brush

Browse Nearby Words

brunts
brush
brush (aside or off)
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Cite this Entry

“Brush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on brush

Nglish: Translation of brush for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brush

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