brush 1 of 3

noun

Definition of brushnext
as in encounter
a brief clash between enemies or rivals the two advance parties had a brush, but no one was wounded

Synonyms & Similar Words

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brush

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily a pop star brushing past a crowd of autograph seekers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

brush

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to kiss
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing spiderwebs brushed her cheek as she walked through the basement

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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
Noun
The last major blaze to sweep through the area was the 2018 Woolsey Fire, meaning brush in most of those canyons has not been cleared for about eight years. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 The duo launches alongside a tapered blending brush designed for gentle, precise application on the delicate skin under your eyes. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
What if brushing your hair could do far more than simply detangling? — Laura Sandroni, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026 Exhausted by administrators continuously brushing off the toxic hate, her family is taking the district to court. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush
  1. encounter
  2. flow
  3. kiss
  4. glide
  5. shave
  6. drift
  7. touch
  8. sweep
Noun
  • Peters has denied the allegations and says the encounter was consensual.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The man who shot a gun in a road rage dispute outside Rangeview High School Tuesday has a history of violent road rage encounters, as alleged in arrest documents.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • From there, wine flowed as attendees tucked into filet mignon and sea bass while chatting across large burgundy floral centerpieces.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some of the weapons from American manufacturers purchased during the Biden administration are still flowing to Ukraine, but many of those contracts have been fulfilled.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of flow
Verb
  • The apples of the cheeks should be touched with the a similar shade of bronze that may be kissing the eyelids, and layered under a fresh peach or tangerine, Schoen said.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But Shauf is less a mystery author than the proprietor of an intricate dollhouse, making his figurines fight and kiss in cross-sectioned rooms.
    — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of kiss
Verb
  • After a brief safety lesson on navigating the course and its cables, participants can ride a zip line into the park, gliding 60 feet above the quarry floor at speeds exceeding 30 mph.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, look for a lip liner that glides on smoothly but has enough grip to keep color from migrating beyond the lip line.
    — Sheryl George, Allure, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of glide
Verb
  • While fashion has spent decades trying to shave seconds off sewing time, this occupies only a fraction of a much longer timeline for getting a shirt to the shop floor.
    — Jessica Binns, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Miley Cyrus shaved the head of a fan who’s being treated for breast cancer.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • For the past 15 years, Ishmael Butler and his cast of collaborators have drifted further and further into the outer reaches, deconstructing and reassembling hip-hop, jazz, and kosmische conventions into sprawling, proggy rhapsodies.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Meta stock plunged after the hyperscaler drifted into negative free cash flow, while China entered bear market territory with Alibaba’s stock dropping 6%, as investors questioned the return on its AI investments.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of drift
Verb
  • Writing diaristic, country-leaning soft-rock, Stiltz also touches on the work of David Berman and Bill Callahan.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The carbon covers the grip, the thumb rest, and the soft-release button, the spots a photographer touches most.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of touch
Verb
  • As of his locker-room interview immediately after the Game 4 sweeping by the Milwaukee Brewers last week, Ohtani still insists on pitching.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • And so, even breakfast stretched into early afternoon, enjoyed as a brief storm swept over the pool, and bookended with mimosas.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of sweep

Phrases Containing brush

Browse Nearby Words

brunts
brush
brush (aside or off)
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Cite this Entry

“Brush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on brush

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brush

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