as in to wave
to put into view in a threatening or excited manner
She brandished a stick at the dog. brandished a petition signed by hundreds of town residents
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brandish
The actor playing Brown wears a red hooded sweatshirt and brandishes a pocket knife similar to the one police say Brown used to fatally stab Zarutska.
—
Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025
After spending years in and out of care facilities, Brian’s life changed in 1993 after he was prosecuted for brandishing a knife.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
That includes a disturbing attack in a Regal Cinema parking lot in 2022 involving a man who says he was attacked at random by the same suspect who was brandishing a machete.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Four playable characters brandishing various weapons in a promotional screenshot for Borderlands 4.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brandish
Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025
After spending years in and out of care facilities, Brian’s life changed in 1993 after he was prosecuted for brandishing a knife.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
That includes a disturbing attack in a Regal Cinema parking lot in 2022 involving a man who says he was attacked at random by the same suspect who was brandishing a machete.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Four playable characters brandishing various weapons in a promotional screenshot for Borderlands 4.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brandish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandish
Verb
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Palestine flags were waved across the crowd and draped across seats as a giant one was displayed on screen.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
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The man had also allegedly threatened the DPW employee by waving a knife, police learned.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Besides Robbins, several Republicans have announced plans to seek their party’s gubernatorial nomination, including 2022 gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen and Kendall Qualls, who sought the GOP nomination in 2022.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
20 Sep. 2025
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Nine finalists — three for each award category — will be announced at the Los Angeles auto show in November.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The river also serves Mexico and more than two dozen Native American tribes, produces hydropower, and supplies water to farms that grow most of the nation’s winter vegetables.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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Calligraphers like Mustapha produce sacred work, such as copies of the Quran, books of religious poetry, and amulets.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brandish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandish. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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