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
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Recent Examples of brushes
Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
These eight thin nylon brushes are best used for straw, thread and cap cleaning.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Upgrade to brushes that deliver a flawless, streak-free makeup application.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
These headwinds, together with Spirit’s ongoing reputational challenges like being the target of jokes by late-night hosts and prominent press coverage of its two brushes with bankruptcy, likely account for Spirit’s satisfaction decline.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
The findings, which were made in collaboration with art historians, suggest that The Baptism could have been largely created by El Greco, perhaps while using different brushes than usual—or with hands that were affected by aging.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026
Some even use natural pigments that are applied from homemade brushes made of human hair.
—Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
This is also a good time to clean your makeup brushes.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
As the years passed, Sarah also had brushes with law enforcement.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 29 Dec. 2024
Jazmine Hughes, Allure, 24 Mar. 2026
When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
At the Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Commander Tommy Nester finds it behind the ceiling panels, brushes it off the uniforms that aren’t behind glass and sweeps it from the baseboards of the main hall.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026
See how his head brushes the sky.
—Roey Leonardi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
Elizabeth Scott brushes off the comparison.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
If someone does bring up his teary picture, Wallake brushes it off.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
Judy brushes him off and leads the way to Cabin Twelve.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
With this new insight in hand, Carol brushes herself off and heads back to the hospital to visit Zosia and ask her directly if there’s any way to reverse the Joining.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
Noun
Additionally, upright vacuums typically come with attachments, including crevice tools, upholstery brushes, and pet hair tools, that enhance the machine’s versatility.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
These eight thin nylon brushes are best used for straw, thread and cap cleaning.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Upgrade to brushes that deliver a flawless, streak-free makeup application.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
These headwinds, together with Spirit’s ongoing reputational challenges like being the target of jokes by late-night hosts and prominent press coverage of its two brushes with bankruptcy, likely account for Spirit’s satisfaction decline.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
The findings, which were made in collaboration with art historians, suggest that The Baptism could have been largely created by El Greco, perhaps while using different brushes than usual—or with hands that were affected by aging.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026
Some even use natural pigments that are applied from homemade brushes made of human hair.
—Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
This is also a good time to clean your makeup brushes.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
As the years passed, Sarah also had brushes with law enforcement.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
Tokyo Stylez, Cardi’s hairstylist, brushes out a sleek brown hairpiece, and Erika la’ pearl, her makeup artist, dabs at Cardi’s face while the rapper scrolls through her phone, controlling the music.
—Jazmine Hughes, Allure, 24 Mar. 2026
When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
At the Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Commander Tommy Nester finds it behind the ceiling panels, brushes it off the uniforms that aren’t behind glass and sweeps it from the baseboards of the main hall.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026
See how his head brushes the sky.
—Roey Leonardi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
Elizabeth Scott brushes off the comparison.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
If someone does bring up his teary picture, Wallake brushes it off.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
Judy brushes him off and leads the way to Cabin Twelve.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
With this new insight in hand, Carol brushes herself off and heads back to the hospital to visit Zosia and ask her directly if there’s any way to reverse the Joining.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brushes
encounters
Noun
-
Attendees would have received copies to deepen the bonds created by the affair, not unlike how people today cherish photographs of their encounters with celebrities and politicians.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
But this truth is anathema in a culture where billionaires expect to live forever and encounters with disease are wars to be fought and won.—
Hannah Kerman,
STAT,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brushes. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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