rubbing

verb

Definition of rubbingnext
present participle of rub
1
as in wearing
to damage or diminish by continued friction the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rubbing The bigger claim making the rounds, that a few minutes of face rubbing can quiet your body’s stress response, is where dermatologists urge a little caution. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 In this case, there’s no swiping or rubbing at all—just let the pads sit and soak in for a few minutes before gently patting in the excess. — Jenny Jin, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026 How to Restore a Wooden Dish Rack If your dish rack is clean, but still looks worse for wear, try rubbing some oil onto the surface. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 24 Sep. 2026 As far as technique, pressing is gentler on dry skin than rubbing or dragging. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026 Among other things, Noohu accused showrunner Ed Brubaker of rubbing his back and of making comments about running his hands through Noohu’s hair. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 Check for any pin bones by rubbing your hands or the length of a knife over the flesh. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026 Arda said New Grain has achieved tensile strength above 10 megapascals at elongations of 50 percent to 100 percent, colorfastness to rubbing rated between grades 4 and 5 and abrasion resistance exceeding 50,000 cycles. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026 The chic flat starts rubbing and the chunky sneaker suddenly feels too casual for a sundress. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbing
  1. wearing
  2. grinding
  3. polishing
  4. eroding
  5. filing
  6. smoothing
  7. fraying
  8. sanding
Verb
  • For a decade, hundreds of Black women and girls have gathered in Kansas City wearing curls, coils, locs, braids and Afros for an annual photograph intended to challenge narrow ideas about what beautiful hair is supposed to look like.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Dixie D’Amelio sauntered in wearing a shimmering black Gucci dress.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of wearing
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 grinding
Verb
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh even got hands-on experience shaping and polishing a quartz gemstone.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Before Bay Area readers start polishing their debate trophies, remember these studies are conversation starters, not final verdicts.
    — James Ward, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of polishing
Verb
  • By the late 1500s, the once vigorous Ming was severely eroding.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
  • That unease is eroding faith in political leaders and fueling calls for upheaval across the spectrum, from young conservatives to students backing progressive challengers in Michigan.
    — Jacqueline Ganun, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of eroding
Verb
  • Known for his exacting, couture-like approach, and an experimental zeal rare among designers at Europe’s largest luxury brands, the Frenchman got his start in fashion by filing, photocopying and cataloguing fabrics at Jean Paul Gaultier.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Examples under laws enforced by the Labor Commissioner include filing certain wage complaints, exercising rights under the Labor Code and raising some workplace health or safety concerns.
    — William Jones, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of filing
Verb
  • When styling this haircut, use a smoothing serum or oil, which will come in handy after the hair is dry.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Also hard at work are ectoin and panthenol, which are rockstars for reducing inflammation, smoothing texture, and, similarly to beta-glucan, forming a protective seal over your skin to keep moisture in and external stressors out.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of smoothing
Verb
  • At a time when the social safety net is fraying and affordability is a midterm-election mantra, churches are stepping into the void.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Hegseth’s fraying ties on the Hill put him on course for a bigger headache after the election, according to interviews with a half-dozen senators as well as multiple administration officials.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of fraying
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 sanding

Browse Nearby Words

rubbery
rubbing
rubbing elbows
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on rubbing

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rubbing

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