as in flows
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in kisses
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brushes
Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
There are specific brushes suited for specific dogs, as each breed has different fur types.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Tools Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best hot tools, makeup brushes, and hair accessories.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Inches away, make-up artists shoved brushes in other models’ faces, and on an outdoor terrace, nail techs pasted custom press-ons under spotlights.
—Pilar Melendez, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
Note that abrasive brushes or sponges will leave small scratches on the surface, but, unlike with a nonstick pan, the scratches won’t damage the pan’s long-term efficacy.
—Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Brian Walshe was captured on Home Depot surveillance video buying various items, including three mops and brushes, two splash-resistant goggles and a utility knife.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Unlike loofahs or scrubbing nets, which are made of non-recyclable plastic, wooden shower brushes are compostable.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2025
But this tubing mascara took my lashes to the lengths that my fluffier brushes do.
—Elizabeth Denton, StyleCaster, 9 Sep. 2025
Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Fog brushes the bluffs like a tide turned into vapor.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Mayor brushes off turmoil amid scandals Adams became the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted on criminal charges last fall after federal prosecutors accused him of taking lavish flights and hotel stays from Turkish businessmen and officials for more than a decade.
—ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Many people only think of insects as pollinators, but pollen also can be spread by a furry chipmunk or even a human who brushes by a low-growing flower and picks up pollen on her shoe.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Henry brushes it off as a nightmare; after Bug moves on, Beauchamp strokes the medallion and sings himself to sleep.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Aug. 2025
The water is perfectly clear — until someone brushes the side of the cave or disturbs the soft bottom, sending fine silt particles billowing into the beam of a headlamp.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Steven brushes off Taylor’s advances and considers going into business with Denise.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
There’s a bit of mystery introduced in these scenes as well, as the Maginot’s lone non-alien survivor, Morrow, brushes off his would-be rescuers.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Meanwhile, the shimmering stars effect was formed using fine, pointed brushes.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
There are specific brushes suited for specific dogs, as each breed has different fur types.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Tools Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best hot tools, makeup brushes, and hair accessories.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Inches away, make-up artists shoved brushes in other models’ faces, and on an outdoor terrace, nail techs pasted custom press-ons under spotlights.
—Pilar Melendez, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
Note that abrasive brushes or sponges will leave small scratches on the surface, but, unlike with a nonstick pan, the scratches won’t damage the pan’s long-term efficacy.
—Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Brian Walshe was captured on Home Depot surveillance video buying various items, including three mops and brushes, two splash-resistant goggles and a utility knife.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Unlike loofahs or scrubbing nets, which are made of non-recyclable plastic, wooden shower brushes are compostable.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2025
But this tubing mascara took my lashes to the lengths that my fluffier brushes do.
—Elizabeth Denton, StyleCaster, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
Despite the mess in her apartment, the man, like everyone else in her life, brushes off her fears as the exaggerations of an overactive imagination.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Fog brushes the bluffs like a tide turned into vapor.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Mayor brushes off turmoil amid scandals Adams became the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted on criminal charges last fall after federal prosecutors accused him of taking lavish flights and hotel stays from Turkish businessmen and officials for more than a decade.
—ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Many people only think of insects as pollinators, but pollen also can be spread by a furry chipmunk or even a human who brushes by a low-growing flower and picks up pollen on her shoe.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
Henry brushes it off as a nightmare; after Bug moves on, Beauchamp strokes the medallion and sings himself to sleep.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Aug. 2025
The water is perfectly clear — until someone brushes the side of the cave or disturbs the soft bottom, sending fine silt particles billowing into the beam of a headlamp.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Steven brushes off Taylor’s advances and considers going into business with Denise.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
There’s a bit of mystery introduced in these scenes as well, as the Maginot’s lone non-alien survivor, Morrow, brushes off his would-be rescuers.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes
encounters
Noun
-
The royal family are responsible for the seating arrangements at the state dinner and appear to have tactfully seated the media mogul far away from the president to avoid any awkward encounters.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
In the complaint, obtained by the Idaho Statesman, IFPC states that during the 2024-25 school year, the family’s student had two encounters with a transgender student in the women’s restroom.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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