brandish
1 of 2verb
transitive verb
brandish
2 of 2noun
Did you know?
Often when we encounter the word brandish in print, it is followed by a word for a weapon, such as knife or handgun. That’s appropriate given the word’s etymology: it is a descendant of the Middle English braundisshen, which comes from the Anglo-French brant or braund, a word of Germanic origin meaning “sword.” Nowadays you can brandish things other than weapons, however. The figurative usage of brandish rose alongside its earliest literal usage in the 14th century. When you brandish something that isn’t a weapon (such as a sign or a letter), you are in effect waving it in someone’s face so that it cannot be overlooked.
Example Sentences
Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2022 The district attorney’s office declined to file felony charges against Lee in the attack on Chappelle because the performer was not injured and Lee did not brandish the weapon, prosecutors said. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2022 Travis Barker similarly went sans shirt beneath his sleeveless black blazer—the better to brandish his generous tattoos. Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, 4 Apr. 2022 The White House is enlisting popular dating apps to encourage Americans to brandish their vaccination status in exchange for a better shot at love. Bloomberg.com, 20 May 2021 In New York, hundreds gathered in Times Square to brandish the Ukrainian flag, while protesters in D.C. mobilized in front of the Russian Embassy. Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2022 In other words, the Kremlin leader got to brandish his nukes. Nathan Hodge, CNN, 19 Feb. 2022 The majority of officers never brandish their guns and even fewer fire them in the line of duty, according to Gold. Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2022 For the first five episodes, Thomas has been depicted as a quiet man who knows just the right time to share a pearl of wisdom — or brandish his gun. Lynette Rice, EW.com, 30 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Verb and Noun
Middle English braundisshen, from Anglo-French brandiss-, stem of brandir, from brant, braund sword, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English brand
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1601, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
brandish
verb
brandish
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- wave
- announce
- advertise
- produce
- proclaim
- flaunt
- unveil
- exhibit
- post
- expose
- display
- flourish
- air
- flash
- herald
- strut
- publicize
- placard
- parade
- trumpet
- broadcast
- show
- show off
- sport
- divulge
- reveal
- disport
- lay out
- bare
- blaze
- sound
- discover
- unmask
- uncover
- uncloak
- tell (of)
- talk (about)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disguise
- mask
- conceal
- camouflage
- hide
- cover
- obscure
- occlude
- veil
- curtain
- enshroud
- occult
- shroud
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of brandish are flourish, swing, thrash, and wave. While all these words mean "to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down," brandish implies threatening or menacing motion.
The synonyms flourish and brandish are sometimes interchangeable, but flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement.
The meanings of swing and brandish largely overlap; however, swing implies regular or uniform movement.
The words thrash and brandish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.
While in some cases nearly identical to brandish, wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion.