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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of brushes
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
Available in 9 different colors, the hanging organizer has four different zippered compartments roomy enough to hold full-size hair care products, brushes, combs, and more.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Plumes resembling narrow bottle brushes emerge in late summer and stand above the foliage throughout autumn.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
The multi-styler comes with all kinds of attachments, including several long barrels, two smoothing brushes, a round volumizing brush, and a smoothing dryer.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
And there were some takes like that, with brushes, just a bare minimum rhythmic approach.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
In addition to the clipping tools, the 7-in-1 pet grooming appliance also comes with a dog paw trimmer, a nail grinder, a deshedding tool and brushes to keep your pup’s hair tangle-free.
—Jessie Quinn, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
This sweeper uses manual brushes to quietly and efficiently pick up crumbs and pet hair.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 27 Aug. 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
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
Available in 9 different colors, the hanging organizer has four different zippered compartments roomy enough to hold full-size hair care products, brushes, combs, and more.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Plumes resembling narrow bottle brushes emerge in late summer and stand above the foliage throughout autumn.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
The multi-styler comes with all kinds of attachments, including several long barrels, two smoothing brushes, a round volumizing brush, and a smoothing dryer.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
And there were some takes like that, with brushes, just a bare minimum rhythmic approach.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
In addition to the clipping tools, the 7-in-1 pet grooming appliance also comes with a dog paw trimmer, a nail grinder, a deshedding tool and brushes to keep your pup’s hair tangle-free.
—Jessie Quinn, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
This sweeper uses manual brushes to quietly and efficiently pick up crumbs and pet hair.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 27 Aug. 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
-
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order and cities like Los Angeles are drafting their own ordinances to protect constituents after reports of disturbing encounters with masked agents or those who refuse to identify themselves.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In most of the romance fraud cases the NCL encounters, the crimes are being perpetrated from overseas.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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