is brushed aside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is brushed aside" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is ignored or dismissed without consideration. Example: "Despite the importance of the issue, it was unfortunately brushed aside during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The remark is brushed aside.

The Guardian - Travel

The remark is brushed aside.

The Guardian - Travel

Contradictory evidence is brushed aside.

The New York Times - Books

Incidentally, one minor detail is brushed aside: bizarrely, the kid doesn't learn karate; it's Japanese.

The Guardian - Film

But why do such arguments have so much traction, while everything economists have spent the last three generations learning is brushed aside?

The New York Times

Hitherto, the champions of Lecter have ascribed to him a core of monstrosity, no more malleable than a diamond, and native to him alone; if so, it is brushed aside and squandered by the uncovering of his past.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Uniiverse is brushing aside status updates and virtual friends, tagging itself as a "platform for collaborative living".

TechCrunch

For now, Brown is brushing aside questions about his willingness to use more of that money.

Los Angeles Times

These make for some serious questions that Tisch is brushing aside.

HuffPost

They were brushed aside.

The Guardian

But it was brushed aside.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is brushed aside" to emphasize that a dismissal was casual, unfair or done without proper consideration of the facts. It is particularly effective when the subject is a person, a concern or an piece of evidence that deserved more attention.

Common error

Avoid using "is brushed aside" when you mean physical cleaning or grooming; use "is brushed away" for literal debris. The phrase "is brushed aside" should be reserved for the figurative act of ignoring or trivializing something.

Linguistic Context

This phrase operates as a passive verb phrase consisting of the auxiliary verb "is", the past participle "brushed" and the adverbial particle "aside". Ludwig AI indicates it typically follows a subject that represents an abstract noun such as "evidence", "remark" or "concern".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Business Planning

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is brushed aside" is a highly effective linguistic tool for describing the marginalization of ideas, people or evidence. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase is favored by top-tier editorial sources to denote a lack of serious consideration by those in power. While synonymous with terms like "is dismissed" or "is ignored", it carries a unique connotation of casual disregard that makes it indispensable for political and social commentary. Its widespread presence in academic and media contexts confirms its status as a reliable and expressive choice for sophisticated English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is dismissed

Provides a more formal and definitive tone of rejection

is swept aside

Implies a more forceful or comprehensive removal of an idea or person

is disregarded

Formal alternative often used in legal or official contexts

is ignored

A neutral and common alternative indicating a lack of attention

is shunted aside

Carries a stronger connotation of being moved to a less important position

is discounted

Often used when the value or truth of a statement is questioned

is overlooked

Suggests a passive failure to notice rather than an active dismissal

is shrugged off

More idiomatic and informal, suggesting a casual attitude toward dismissal

is rejected

A direct and explicit term for not accepting something

is set aside

Can be neutral, implying a temporary pause rather than permanent dismissal

FAQs

How to use "is brushed aside" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe how something was ignored, for example: "His legitimate concern "is brushed aside" by the management."

What can I say instead of "is brushed aside"?

Depending on the context, you can use "is dismissed", "is ignored" or "is swept aside".

What is the difference between "is brushed aside" and "is swept aside"?

While both mean to ignore, "is swept aside" often implies a more powerful or total dismissal compared to the potentially casual nature of being brushed aside.

Is "is brushed aside" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, although "is dismissed" or "is disregarded" are sometimes preferred for a strictly objective tone, "is brushed aside" is frequently found in high-level journalistic and academic sources like Ludwig.