brushes 1 of 3

noun

plural of brush
as in encounters
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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brushes

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of brush
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

brushes

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of brush
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 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 brushes
Noun
The neighborhood/area Low-key and residential, dotted with independent businesses—including workshops still turning out traditional brushes, fans, and delicate woodwork. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 This kit makes both jobs simple with tools for cleaning up to 15-foot vents with flexible rods, specialty brushes that fit inside lint traps, and tweezers to reach into all the nooks and crannies. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026 Use dry tools like microfiber mops, coil brushes, or dusters to safely dislodge dust and debris without causing damage. — The Spruce, 17 Aug. 2026 Hanin and Guariglia — who was at the time an attorney but has since been disbarred — had several brushes with police during their relationship, records show. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026 Florida saw some tropical headaches in the years that followed, including brushes with Dennis, Katrina and Wilma in 2005 and the flooding of Tropical Storm Fay in 2008. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 Finger-painted over generations and later created using brushes made from fur and plants, the ancient rock art is thought to have served as a visual language for prehistoric peoples. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026 At a time when the glossy magazine profile seems hopelessly compromised, Syme uses her deep knowledge of musicals, fashion, and old Hollywood to add substance to what could be breezy brushes with fame and fortune. — Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, 11 Aug. 2026 There are no brushes, for instance, though there are traces of brushwork. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
Fertitta brushes off the scuffle between his president and Meloni. — CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 During a penumbral eclipse, the moon merely brushes this outer zone and often appears only subtly dimmed. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Flagrantly practicing an especially ribald strain of cringe comedy that brushes several third rails, often simultaneously, the show could have been a disastrous gambit. — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Soon after Sally brushes off the comments, her daughters are introduced. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 Out on 6th Avenue, a woman brushes by me holding a tiny white dog. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 4 July 2026 Johnson brushes off the skirmishes, broadly speaking, as part of the governing process. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Bryce Harper, star slugger, the Phillie Phanatic's best friend, and baseball hero to children of all ages, brushes his teeth. — CBS News, 28 May 2026 These stocks have climbed for weeks as the market brushes off the narrative that AI is a threat to the cybersecurity industry. — Morgan Chittum,matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes
  1. encounters
  2. flows
  3. kisses
  4. glides
  5. shaves
  6. sails
  7. touches
  8. drifts
Noun
  • The days spent with the other witnesses as well as the encounters and testimonies shed light on events that had remained unresolved for decades.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Even Velvet, after seven or eight encounters and a viral video, barely knows him.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of encounters
Verb
  • Rather than funding a single program, the donation from the Dimons flows into permanent endowments, which UNCF argues gives schools the freedom to plan for decades instead of scrambling to find donations year to year.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This force flows from a populational logic that uses statistics and algorithms to distribute the state’s violence work.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of flows
Verb
  • Trees blow in the breeze, birds chirp, and the dappled sunlight kisses our skin as six of us observe the chef and snap photos during our outdoor mayonnaise-making class.
    — Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Her character, Eleven, kisses her best friend Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard).
    — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of kisses
Verb
  • Viewed through a singular perspective, the camera glides with measured precision, reflecting her focus and quiet intensity.
    — Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Start your visit with a ride on the Bretton Woods Skyway Gondola, which glides above the treetops to reveal sweeping views of the Presidential Range painted in brilliant shades of crimson, amber and gold.
    — Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of glides
Verb
  • That shaves a year off the typical 120-hour bachelor’s degree.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For example, using behind-the-meter battery storage or local generation during peak windows actively shaves expensive demand charges without sacrificing performance.
    — Ray Fernandez, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of shaves
Verb
  • Some of my favorites are coming back too, like El Pulpo Magnifico, Duane Flatmo's fire-breathing octopus, and the Monaco, a 40-foot ship with three masts that sails across dust instead of water.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Better yet, take a coastal cruise with Cape Ann Harbor Tours, which sails past six regional lighthouses.
    — Nicholas DeRenzo, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sails
Verb
  • According to health officials, exposure to rabies can also happen when a person touches a bat's saliva or brain tissue or wakes up with one in their bedroom.
    — Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • However, giving it to someone else can lead to germs being transferred, especially with makeup that touches the lips or eyes.
    — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of touches
Verb
  • The danger, however, lies in whether maximizing the profits on this $12 billion purchase drifts the Lakers closer to a luxurious cliche.
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The topic momentarily drifts to Chuck D, who Hanna greatly admires.
    — Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of drifts

Browse Nearby Words

brushed (off)
brushes
brushes (aside or off)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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