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
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 brandished
Chatrie handed a teller a note demanding money, brandished a silver-and-black pistol and left with $195,000.
—
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Fast forward five minutes, and our waiter brandished a new bottle ready for pouring, leaving us stuffed and happy.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The San Jose Police Department said officers responded to a report of a disturbance involving a weapon and determined that a person had brandished a box cutter at several people in the parking area.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Grimes brandished a gun, and Northington and Hyman robbed the store, taking money from the cash register.
—Lily Carey, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026
So, per the rulebook, referee Slavko Vinčić brandished his yellow card to Camavinga.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
Upon arrival, officers determined that one of the suspects brandished an AK-47 style rifle, while the second suspect brandished a handgun.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Authorities said when the driver refused to take them to a specific location, one of the men allegedly brandished a gun and forcibly removed him from the vehicle.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Israel’s firebrand minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who spearheaded the push for the legislation, brandished a bottle in celebration.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Fast forward five minutes, and our waiter brandished a new bottle ready for pouring, leaving us stuffed and happy.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The San Jose Police Department said officers responded to a report of a disturbance involving a weapon and determined that a person had brandished a box cutter at several people in the parking area.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Grimes brandished a gun, and Northington and Hyman robbed the store, taking money from the cash register.
—Lily Carey, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026
So, per the rulebook, referee Slavko Vinčić brandished his yellow card to Camavinga.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
Upon arrival, officers determined that one of the suspects brandished an AK-47 style rifle, while the second suspect brandished a handgun.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Authorities said when the driver refused to take them to a specific location, one of the men allegedly brandished a gun and forcibly removed him from the vehicle.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Israel’s firebrand minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who spearheaded the push for the legislation, brandished a bottle in celebration.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandished
waved
Verb
-
In one image, a radiant Kiara waved at the camera, Joel’s hands cradling her belly.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Reds waved the white flag in the ninth inning on Wednesday night, sending catcher Jose Trevino to the mound as the sacrificial pitcher.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brandished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandished. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
