BRUSH (ASIDE OR OFF) Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

brush (aside or off)

verb

Definition of brush (aside or off)

as in to ignore

to dismiss as of little importance brushed off their complaints as the whining of people who were never satisfied

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brush (aside or off)

Verb

There is so much going on in all of our lives but far too much beauty in this world to ignore.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Many structures are built with substandard materials and safety regulations are frequently ignored to reduce costs.

— Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of ignore

Verb

An elephantine star becoming a black hole doesn’t explain it either.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Maybe this explains why Effective Altruism—the idea that generosity should be subjected to evidence and calculation—seemed counterintuitive.

— David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of explain

Verb

The lumbering left fielder whose poor defense can be papered over with excellent positioning suddenly will have to cover more ground.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
An invisible brand can’t rely on a viral post to paper over inconsistent delivery.

— Sophie Attwood, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of paper over

Verb

The targeting of civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, particularly airports, illustrates the retaliatory logic the Houthis have invoked to justify their actions.

— Laurent Bonnefoy, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
There is always a new spectacle, a new gimmick to lure people into a theater and justify the cost of a ticket.

— Sam Fleischner, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of justify

Verb

The device is nothing but a small stool (pardon the pun) that fits around the base of one’s toilet.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Oct. 2026
The beach itself is worth venturing to even for a day visit, but staying on this peaceful, postcard-perfect cove had me—pardon the nautical pun— falling hook, line, and sinker for Milos.

— Callie Thorpe, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of pardon

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

brush

brush (aside or off)

brushed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Brush (aside or off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brush%20%28aside%20or%20off%29. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of brush (aside or off)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes