rub 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rubnext
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation even what seems to be a dream job usually turns out to have its fair share of rubs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rub

2 of 2

verb

ˈrəb How to pronounce rub (audio)
1
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use

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2
as in to sand
to make smooth by friction the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of rub
Noun
While Bo could often be won over with a treat, the Obamas said Sunny preferred attention and playtime, including running around with the family, rolling on the floor and getting belly rubs. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 Oftentimes, these displays lead to many random rub creations that will never be touched again by that buck, or any other deer. — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
Lightly rub the runners on all sides with a bar of soap or paraffin wax. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026 Drain, then rub beans between fingers to remove as many skins as possible. — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rub
  1. headache
  2. wear
  3. sand
  4. polish
  5. thorn
  6. erode
  7. grind
  8. smooth
Noun
  • The usual symptoms include high fever, headache, stiffness and an overall feeling that resembles the flu.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Budget cuts The unrest is adding to a major political headache for the government, which is about to start tough budget negotiations against a backdrop of division and economic turmoil.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of headache
Verb
  • Eldridge sounds wistful, speculating about the person who might have worn them.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • To this point, experts agree that the best commercial product isn’t necessarily the easiest to wear.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of wear
Verb
  • The roughly 7,300-square-foot residence has been adapted for contemporary living without completely sanding away what came before.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Bass delves into the ease (or difficulty) of loving people in terms anyone could grasp, sanding down the uniqueness of Cyrus’s viewpoint.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • Each refillable case secures with a satisfying magnetic closure, and is polished with an alabaster finish.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
  • These natural diamonds are often cloudy and oddly shaped, and lose about 25% of their weight as they're cut and polished into what a jeweler would sell, according to Nathan Renfro, senior manager at the Gemological Institute of America.
    — LAURA TURBAY, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of polish
Noun
  • The Parquet Courts frontman has launched the group Iconic Fugues with a two-pronged track that’s surely relatable to anyone who has a rose and a thorn of the past year.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The shrubs, ranging from deer brush to white thorn shrub, are incredibly good at resprouting, Young said.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of thorn
Verb
  • There’s a real challenge that AI agents will start to go against compliance and erode customer trust—especially in regulated industries like those that ServiceNow sits in.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Prices have been rising faster than paychecks in recent months, so workers' real buying power is being eroded.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • Hitler wanted more dead, but his early lightning victories—Poland beaten in weeks, France in forty days—had turned into a grinding nightmare for the Nazis.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The Raunchiest Miley Cyrus shocked viewers by stripping down to a nude bikini top and briefs and grinding, twerking and thrusting on fellow performer Robin Thicke at the 2013 show in one of the raciest performances in MTV history.
    — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of grind
Verb
  • The batteries smooth the load and help optimize fuel consumption.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The project is predicated on the theme that the title suggests — love of self, love of others, love for her daughter Hazel — while embracing a swath of styles spanning quiet storm to smooth, finger-snapped R&B.
    — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of smooth

Phrases Containing rub

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royalty
rub
rubbed
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Cite this Entry

“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rub. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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