brush
Usage
What are other ways to say brush?
A brush is a brief encounter or skirmish: a brush with the law. Struggle implies vigorous bodily effort or violent exertion: a hand-to-hand struggle. Clash implies a direct and sharp collision between opposing parties, efforts, interests, etc.: a clash of opinions.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Drizzle the seasoned butter mixture over the crackers, using a pastry brush or clean hands to make sure each cracker gets a little attention.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026
Roll one corner of a tissue into a long, fine point and gently brush it across the tiny hairs around your lips.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
Multiple homes and outbuildings were on fire after a brush fire quickly spread in Lucerne Valley, fire officials said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Squeezed at the edge of the scene is a table with the tools of an artist scattered about—palette knife, tubes of paints, a can of brush cleaner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
The brush whirls on the canvas, the syllabary elegant and smooth.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
![]()
But Pyrtsu -- who said he did not bring a first aid kit -- brushes off the idea of a strike.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
With Brunon’s guidance, they began by drawing small-scale sketches, and eventually they were dipping brushes into cans of paint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2026
ZF believes it has solved that problem by developing one that works on the same principle but does away with the brushes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
With a few tubes of paint, brushes and putty knives you might find at your local hardware store, fearless creation is something anybody can do.
From Salon ● May 2, 2026
Although the water had been turned off, Miss Lilian’s soaps and shampoos, her combs and brushes and towels, lay where she’d left them, dusty and cobwebbed but still usable.
From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn
![]()
Perisic’s cross had brushed the hair of teammate Igor Matanovic, leaving Mario Pasalic in an offside position when the ball reached him near the far post.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
But when French President Emmanuel Macron announced the loan almost exactly a year ago, he brushed aside the warnings to celebrate Franco-British relations, 10 years after the bitter Brexit referendum.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
U.S. stock futures were higher with Nasdaq making gains as traders brushed off the AI worries that jolted stocks in recent weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Still, Skogmo brushed off the prices, noting that this level of spending was “special for the World Cup.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
A tear might have begun to roll down her cheek, but if it did, she brushed it aside so quickly that no one was the wiser.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
![]()
While Le Pen beamed at the cameras, brushing off suggestions her deputy would mind being sidelined and insisting "our personal ambitions are absolutely irrelevant", he barely reacted and scarcely smiled.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
There, Chip stands in front of the cheese case for a moment, brushing past the string cheese and the Parmesan shakers before settling on a packet of American singles.
From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026
Dr. Giuseppe Mainas, first author of the study from King's College London, said: "Our study suggests lifestyle modifications could be important alongside proper tooth brushing for patients."
From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026
Paying his first visit to India, Rubio said the two democracies were on the same page on all major issues, brushing aside recent unease in New Delhi over trade, China and the Iran war.
From Barron's ● May 24, 2026
I race down the stairs, brushing past Mom.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
![]()
Vocabulary lists containing brush
Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Units 2–3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Neighborhood Odes
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!