BRANDISHED Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

brandished

verb

past tense of brandish

as in waved

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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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 brandished Jameson’s lawyers argued that Riley brandished a rifle during the encounter and Jameson fired his own gun in self-defense. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 Campos brandished a gun at bank tellers and customers in five of the robberies, officials said. — Pioneer Press, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 In another heated dispute at a Costco in British Columbia, a woman brandished a machete. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026 During one particularly violent encounter in June 2024, China Coast Guard personnel brandished axes at Philippine troops and slashed their rubber boats. — Ivan Watson, CNN Money, 24 July 2026 As baseball braces for a potentially lengthy lockout after the 2026 season, the Players’ Association has brandished the record-setting price as an example of how committed spending can drive franchise values. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Lawhead knocked at the door, brandished a gun and ordered her to leave the home with him, according to the prosecutor. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026 Spectators wore hats and brandished small fans to fend off the heat as a formation of air force planes roared overhead trailing red, white and blue smoke. — Eva Van Dam, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 That officer then pulled the man from the car, at which point the man brandished a knife. — Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandished

waved

Verb

Hagerty had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Colton Hatfield waved off due to a block in the back.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2026
According to Tisch, Cisneros then waved her knives and began to advance on the officers, who attempted to subdue the woman with a Taser before employing lethal force.

— Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of waved

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“Brandished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandished. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of brandished

verb

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