brush (off) 1 of 2

verb

Definition of brush (off)next
as in to shrug off

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brush-off

2 of 2

noun

ˈbrəsh-ˌȯf How to pronounce brush-off (audio)
as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly the mayor tends to give anyone under voting age the brush-off

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 (off)
Noun
Advertisement In response to which Thune had a polite brush-off. — Philip Elliott, Time, 29 July 2026 The comment has done little to settle the debate, with fans remaining divided on whether to take her denial seriously or read it as a playful brush-off. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026 But his subtle brush-off of Collins is a sign of the cocky and brash kid already beginning to emerge — the same one who could cut down people down to size on his way to redefining himself and jolting both the New York folk scene and the world of pop at large. — David Browne, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2025 That brush-off on top of Chris somehow edging her out of the Olympic team so that Tunde wound up as an alternate was too much not to go nuclear. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025 Some interpreted the moment as a blatant brush-off; however, others pointed out that Brigitte, 72, could simply have been focused on keeping her balance on the airplane steps or preparing herself to greet the Prince and Princess of Wales. — Meredith Kile, People.com, 8 July 2025 But our findings suggest that the mere inclusion of abbreviations, although seemingly benign, start feeling like a brush-off. — David Fang, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025 Alumi-Blast is an apt name for this low sheen coating that looks realistically like cast aluminum that has received a light brush-off abrasive blast at the factory. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 26 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush (off)
  1. shrug off
  2. dismissal
  3. reject
  4. rebuff
  5. dismiss
  6. rejection
  7. scorn
  8. snub
Verb
  • Those ostensible allies shrugged off criticism of their destructive interventions in Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
    — MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Trump, now shrugging off concerns about the threat posed to those who remained aboard the plane he was supposed to be on.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of shrug off
Noun
  • The former defence minister is popular among younger Ukrainians and his dismissal in July sparked protests across the country.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Opinion polls taken in recent weeks show that Fedorov has grown popular enough in Ukraine since his dismissal to pose a serious challenge to Zelensky in a presidential race.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismissal
Verb
  • Ogunyemi rejects the notion that encouragement is merely a soft leadership practice that can’t be connected to measurable business outcomes.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Lucas was convicted of fatally shooting a 16-year-old girl who rejected his romantic advances and wounding two of her friends.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of reject
Noun
  • The rebuff contributes to the future civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, in which Rhaenyra battles her half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) for the seat of power.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026
  • Despite the Reina Sofía’s many refusals to lend the work to various institutions around the world, its rebuff of the Guggenheim’s request carries a particular sting because the Basque Country has long held that the painting belongs in the place where the depicted tragedy occurred.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of rebuff
Verb
  • Zhykovych’s lawyer, Anatoliy Ivanov, dismissed the allegations, telling CNN that Reut was the organizer and killer and was seeking to shift the blame onto Zhykovych.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Chauvin is looking to have his conviction vacated and the charges dismissed.
    — Riley Moser, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismiss
Noun
  • Social media’s instant rejection of Netflix’s Qwikster spinoff, for instance, forced the company to scuttle that bad idea almost immediately after it was introduced in 2011.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • After all, the billionaire founder lived a whirlwind of a career, turning down lucrative job offers and weathering professional rejection before ultimately launching one of the world’s biggest biotech companies.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of rejection
Verb
  • The target of the anger and scorn in all the insulting posters, slogans, and graffiti of the protest zone was not the education minister but Modi himself.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Now that the Chicago Bears have scorned Portage’s bid to build a stadium on the city’s north side, the Redevelopment Commission plans to repackage the site before offering it to other developers.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Definition of scorn
Noun
  • Michael Smith, a spokesman for Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, said the office learned of the snub through the media.
    — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Rosie O'Donnell's next guest won't be Kathy Griffin, and the comedian is feeling dejected about the snub.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of snub

Browse Nearby Words

brushing (off)
brush (off)
brush-off
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Cite this Entry

“Brush (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush%20%28off%29. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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