brush (off) 1 of 2

brush-off

2 of 2

noun

as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly the mayor tends to give anyone under voting age the brush-off

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 (off)
Noun
But there are now pressing concerns over whether Trump will pull the U.S. from the alliance as part of his broader brush-off of America's allies—and whether the remaining nations of the Five Eyes could survive it. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025 Alumi-Blast is an apt name for this low sheen coating that looks realistically like cast aluminum that has received a light brush-off abrasive blast at the factory. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 26 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush (off)
Verb
  • Thomas Frank’s team have shrugged off the departure of free-scoring England striker Ivan Toney in August to Al Ahli of the Saudi Pro League, with Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa contributing 30 league goals between them (16 and 14).
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Stock markets have plummeted, but the president has generally shrugged off the losses, noting markets go up and down.
    Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The order included full pardons of those already sentenced, commutations of sentences of 14 Proud Boys and Oath Keepers and the dismissal of all pending cases.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
  • But chipping away at central bank independence, as Trump appears to be doing with his open criticism of the Fed chair and implicit threats of dismissal, is a historically sure way to high inflation.
    Ana Carolina Garriga, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Their firm rejection of federal government conditions also emphasizes autonomy's critical role in organizational health.
    Dan Pontefract, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The 6-foot-11 big man is logging averages of 19.2 points, 10.4 boards, 4.9 dimes, 1.1 swipes and 0.8 rejections across his 75 available contests.
    David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • There are plenty of glaring examples, such as Steve Jobs and Google being rejected by some of the world’s most renowned VCs (https://www.bvp.com/anti-portfolio).
    Dileep Rao, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Superior Court Judge Craig Collins from neighboring Gaston county also rejected it after Tench’s friends and family — his mother, sister and aunts — submitted and read aloud letters underlining the effect Tench’s disappearance and apparent death have had.
    Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • So any of the below snubs could change, and IndieWire understands the festival hasn’t screened all the possibilities just yet.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Newsweek spoke to therapist Samantha Silverman about the plus-one snub and whether or not the poster was right to leave the wedding prematurely.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • On March 4, the day the order to show cause was to be heard, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the case.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Heyman dismissed fans on social media who have failed to give Rollins his flowers, saying he’s seen pro wrestlers fail in the ring and seen praise on social media for them while others spout nonsense while ignoring historical facts.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The temporary ruling in favor of 19 Democratic state attorneys general was met with scorn over the weekend from the White House and Musk, who called for the judge to be impeached.
    Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Klay Thompson has already been scorned by his new team.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The mixed fragments pass over rotating screens that remove cardboard and paper, allowing heavier materials, including plastics, metals and glass, to continue along the sorting line.
    Alex Jordan, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The bombers executed a low pass over Osan Air Base before leaving the South Korean airspace.
    Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brush (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush%20%28off%29. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!