as in waving
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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Recent Examples of brandishing
But Arirang can be frustrating as a collection of sometimes aspirationally simplistic literary concepts from a group with a catalogue of songs brandishing mythic notions and philosophical concepts (sometimes hilariously).
—
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
In January, the group’s Instagram account published a slideshow of men and women riding horses through dramatic scenery—in one case, while brandishing a gun.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Police body camera footage released by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General Inspector showed Walker brandishing a knife and raised the blade toward a policeman who had fallen over during a scuffle in the apartment involving Walker and his family members.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
Within minutes, an armed gunman, brandishing two weapons, killed three people and injured 15 others.
—Austin American-Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet despite all the characters brandishing weapons, the only person in the entire series who seems capable of getting away with murder is Jeff Wentworth, a former Texas state senator who objects to an imposing wall that his neighbor Alexa has constructed around her property, in San Antonio.
—Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Videos of the incident did not show Pretti brandishing a gun.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November 2025 in Los Angeles federal court to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (known as a Hobbs Act offense) and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence.
—City News Service, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
In January, the group’s Instagram account published a slideshow of men and women riding horses through dramatic scenery—in one case, while brandishing a gun.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Police body camera footage released by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General Inspector showed Walker brandishing a knife and raised the blade toward a policeman who had fallen over during a scuffle in the apartment involving Walker and his family members.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
Within minutes, an armed gunman, brandishing two weapons, killed three people and injured 15 others.
—Austin American-Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
Yet despite all the characters brandishing weapons, the only person in the entire series who seems capable of getting away with murder is Jeff Wentworth, a former Texas state senator who objects to an imposing wall that his neighbor Alexa has constructed around her property, in San Antonio.
—Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Videos of the incident did not show Pretti brandishing a gun.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Bland pleaded guilty in November 2025 in Los Angeles federal court to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (known as a Hobbs Act offense) and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence.
—City News Service, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandishing
Verb
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The procession opened with a young boy waving a Mexican flag.—
Laura Turbay,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Some people have signs, others are waving American flags.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chawaa - that's Big Chief Demond Melancon of the Young Seminole Hunters announcing his arrival.—
Nichole Marks,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The fire forced evacuations and closures, with Moreno Valley College announcing it would be closed Friday and Saturday, canceling all events on its main campus.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandishing. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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