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:
More than 900 firefighters were tackling the blaze, using fire engines, helicopters and bulldozers, in an effort to clear the tinder-dry brush.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
And is he financially literate, or does he need to brush up on the basics, too?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
But he ultimately answers to the country’s autocratic supreme leader, who can afford to brush off at least some amount of public unhappiness.
From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026
Melt the remaining tablespoon butter and brush over the tops.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
The terrain, covered in frozen brush and grass, is rolling, sloping up and down, up and down.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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
When we wonder about his Ukrainian surname, he brushes that off as irrelevant.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 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
Speaking from their home in Tuscaloosa, Ala., apart from Weaver, Allman brushes off such criticism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
On the way back from their apartment, Mom must realize this is where my mind is, because she brushes her fingers through my hair.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
They brushed off her concerns, she said, citing Maisa’s good grades, verbal sophistication and empathy as evidence that she couldn’t be autistic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
One theory is that officers initially assumed it was just another episode and brushed it off.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
Major wireless executives have brushed off Starlink’s threat to their businesses, but SpaceX’s latest commentary has investors worried anew.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
I melted the butter and miso together until fragrant and faintly nutty, then brushed it over sourdough and baked the slices until deeply golden.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 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
Edison explained structure brushing in an article last year, describing how it cleared all vegetation around certain equipment, creating a 10-foot barrier to reduce the fire risk.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
After initially brushing off LLMs, DeepMind was developing its own chatbots.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
Brown-Forman and a group of Brown family shareholders issued a joint statement brushing off Sazerac’s unsolicited proposal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
These included repeated brushing, chewing forces, and contact with acidic foods that can gradually dissolve enamel.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
His concentration was impressive, as was his brushing skill.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
Vocabulary lists containing brush
Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Units 2–3
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Neighborhood Odes
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