as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in kissing
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 brushing
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Turn them over; repeat brushing with olive oil and sprinkling seasonings.
—Faye Levy, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
But instead of brushing out the curls, Fox left them as-is, giving her look a sweet, fanciful twist.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Feb. 2026
Getting your dog to the ring takes hours of work, from brushing and blow-drying to careful styling.
—Martha Teichner, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
From brushing ice in curling to flying down an ice track headfirst in skeleton, the Winter Olympics are home to some unique and exciting sports that feature uncommon vernacular.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
His wife of fifty years, Mona, who was seated beside him, emerged from the wreck shaken but seemingly unharmed, brushing off a small bump on her brow.
—Shannon Taggart, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Use a broom or other implement to remove snow from shrubs by brushing upward.
—Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Ways to curb water use Monroe officials urged residents to fix leaks and running toilets, keep showers brief and turn off faucets while brushing teeth, shaving and washing dishes.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Allowing people to keep doing some tasks on their own, like brushing their teeth, is critical for keeping their sense of self in the world.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Turn them over; repeat brushing with olive oil and sprinkling seasonings.
—Faye Levy, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
But instead of brushing out the curls, Fox left them as-is, giving her look a sweet, fanciful twist.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Feb. 2026
Getting your dog to the ring takes hours of work, from brushing and blow-drying to careful styling.
—Martha Teichner, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
From brushing ice in curling to flying down an ice track headfirst in skeleton, the Winter Olympics are home to some unique and exciting sports that feature uncommon vernacular.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
His wife of fifty years, Mona, who was seated beside him, emerged from the wreck shaken but seemingly unharmed, brushing off a small bump on her brow.
—Shannon Taggart, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Use a broom or other implement to remove snow from shrubs by brushing upward.
—Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Ways to curb water use Monroe officials urged residents to fix leaks and running toilets, keep showers brief and turn off faucets while brushing teeth, shaving and washing dishes.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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