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
China-mania spanned the ideological gamut: Black Power activists brandished copies of Mao’s little red book.
—
Mark Tseng-Putterman / Made By History, TIME, 10 Mar. 2025
According to Hatcher, at least one of the women retrieved a gun from their vehicle and brandished it at the dog’s owner during the dispute.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025
Tucker and Bland have also been charged with one additional count of Hobbs Act robbery and four counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, officials said.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel.
—Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brandish
Mark Tseng-Putterman / Made By History, TIME, 10 Mar. 2025
According to Hatcher, at least one of the women retrieved a gun from their vehicle and brandished it at the dog’s owner during the dispute.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025
Tucker and Bland have also been charged with one additional count of Hobbs Act robbery and four counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, officials said.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel.
—Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brandish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandish
Verb
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The pope, seated in a wheelchair, waved from the balcony and smiled.—
Danielle Wallace,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
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An 11-year-old boy in the passenger seat waved a handgun and laughed as his side of the vehicle struck the cyclist.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA TODAY,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro suspended flights on March 8, after the U.S. Treasury Department announced the withdrawal of Chevron’s license to export Venezuelan oil.—
ASSOCIATED PRESS,
TIME,
23 Mar. 2025
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The North Carolina Department of Public Safety announced a mandatory evacuation on Saturday for parts of Polk County in western North Carolina, about 80 miles west of Charlotte.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Those attempts, in turn, produced more points than their opponents.—
Brendan Quinn,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
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Isar's Spectrum also isn't reusable, but European officials hope competition from new startups will produce fresh launch options, and perhaps stimulate an inspired response from Europe's entrenched launch companies.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brandish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandish. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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