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:
Roast the turkey for about 20 minutes, until the skin dries, then apply an even coat with a brush.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
"Strange things happen in China... you know we would often brush shoulders with sort of quite senior members of the Chinese communist party," he tells us.
From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2026
With the blade, clippers, shears, comb, brush, spray bottle and styling creams as his tools, he sets his eye on hair.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026
It was easy to brush aside the question.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
Next moment I heard something big lumbering through the brush.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
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Makenzy Beard discovered her talent for painting during the Covid lockdown after she decided to try out her mother's old paint brushes in the garden shed.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
TAICHUNG, Taiwan—The first course arrived on a miniature lacquered rack, the kind you’d expect to hold ink brushes in a scholar’s studio.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
After so long on the road, driving past despair dotted along the road’s shoulders, Day brushes off a cry for help with a joke.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
"Cytology brushes can be used when dry and do an excellent job of harvesting cellular material without damaging the integrity of the artifact being sampled," says Breen.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
The legs of the chair scrape against the floor as it brushes toward the back wall.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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When told Doncic topped NBA.com’s first MVP ladder Friday, the Lakers coach brushed aside any chance to make a grand proclamation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026
Tech firms led heavy losses across Asian markets Tuesday as investors brushed off a rebound on Wall Street amid growing fears about the AI investment boom ahead of crunch earnings releases.
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
The former world number 44 ruthlessly brushed aside Italian 15th seed Paolini in a 6-2 6-0 victory, further validating Kartal's patient approach to recovering from the first serious injury of her career.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
But almost in unison, they effectively brushed the worries aside, saying competition from higher-rate-seeking money is nothing new.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
Father held the baby close, his white beard brushed its cheek, looking into the little face with eyes as blue and innocent as the baby’s own.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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These experiments examined how the newly formed enamel responded to activities and exposures that teeth routinely experience, including brushing, chewing, and contact with acidic foods.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026
All 339 Olympic events: The next Olympics is still a couple years away, but it’s not too early to start brushing up on your knowledge of the Summer Games.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
But Dyson, 79 years old, spent six years inventing an AI-powered toothbrush that promises to floss teeth at the same time as brushing them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Moments after Manchester City had put down their first heavyweight marker of the post-Pep Guardiola era by brushing aside Crystal Palace, he was asked live on TV how much he enjoyed the game.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
That day she had flown over treetops, her shoes brushing the tips of their branches, and swooped low, causing a herd of unicorns to scatter.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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Vocabulary lists containing brush
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