as in to wave
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
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Recent Examples of brandish
Bailey and an unidentified accomplice pursued the victim while brandishing a firearm on Cathedral Ct.
—
Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 10 June 2025
Read: Trump’s Kennedy Center debut: ‘Les Mis’ and six-figure checks
Misérables was an insult that French insurgents picked up and brandished as a banner.
—Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
But Trump still brandishes the specter of institutional antisemitism, among other false accusations, to try to seize government control of Harvard’s admissions, faculty staffing, and curriculum decisions for its own political biases.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 July 2025
To wit, many attendees were brandishing the new Cristina Satchel bag style that retails for an easy $350.
—Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for brandish
Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 10 June 2025
Read: Trump’s Kennedy Center debut: ‘Les Mis’ and six-figure checks
Misérables was an insult that French insurgents picked up and brandished as a banner.
—Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
But Trump still brandishes the specter of institutional antisemitism, among other false accusations, to try to seize government control of Harvard’s admissions, faculty staffing, and curriculum decisions for its own political biases.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 July 2025
To wit, many attendees were brandishing the new Cristina Satchel bag style that retails for an easy $350.
—Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for brandish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brandish
Verb
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For example, open your jacket and raise or wave your arms.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
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Hicks also laughed at the hysteria while waving his hands as the bat entered the tower.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Chris Bailey announced an effort to create his department's new strategic plan in April.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
24 July 2025
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General Motors announced on Tuesday that while the company beat earnings, second-quarter profits dropped, including a $1.1 billion hit from import taxes.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
23 July 2025
Verb
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The fleet includes a host of rarities, such as the 10 millionth Ford Mustang produced (built at the Flat Rock Assembly plant) and the 1999 Ford Thunderbird Concept as well as various iterations of the company’s famed GT supercars.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
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Additionally, the company's Orion Assembly facility, originally slated to become an EV-only plant, will now produce light-duty pickup trucks and SUVs.—
Stuart Dyos,
The Tennessean,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brandish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brandish. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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