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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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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 rub
Noun
Dry-rub them, marinate them overnight, or crisp them and toss them in a sauce of your own. — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026 Add a little olive oil and a pinch of salt, then use your hands to gently squeeze, rub, and knead the leaves. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
Some of the more envelope-pushing moments, including an extended scene of nuns ripping off their habits and rubbing themselves on a life-sized crucifix, were in the script. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026 Separating small equipment, personal accessories, and emergency supplies can also help reduce clutter and prevent belongings from rubbing against one another. — New Atlas, 16 Oct. 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
  • Those headaches create headwinds, but the underlying story provides support.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Residents have reported symptoms including burning in the eyes, lungs and sinuses, bad headaches and nausea.
    — Lana Zak, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of headache
Verb
  • Anduril’s technology will focus on equipment worn by the animals, not genetic modifications.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Architect Brent Buck first met Whit Bernard and Freya Zaheer in a cornfield wearing a flannel shirt.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of wear
Verb
  • To hold it in my lap and sand down the spot where my story was engraved.
    — Daniel Barnum, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Whatever marks that remain after pulling the supports away and curing the parts are easily ground or sanded away.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • The asymmetrical hemline of the sweater is right on trend and makes the whole look feel much more intentional, while the slouchy silhouette still looks polished enough for a coffee run after landing.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Almost all of them seemed empty, like houses closed for the season, but a handful had signs of life—crewmen at the railings, polishing the brightwork, as if getting ready to leave.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of polish
Noun
  • Their similarities end there with Divya becoming a thorn in Isla’s plans all season.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In the initial draft that didn't make it into the final episode, Greg touched on how STAGFLATION was a central thorn in the side of this concept.
    — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of thorn
Verb
  • The killing drew national outrage and calls for accountability, becoming the latest in a string of incidents that has eroded trust in police in the small town.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Dench was first diagnosed in 2012 with macular degeneration, a retinal disease that erodes one’s central vision and is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over 65.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • For decades, junior accountants learned their trade by reconciling accounts, manually entering data, and grinding through the month-end close.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • This innovation—the mass manufacture of ammonia, vastly more efficient than scraping guano off remote islands or grinding mountains of bison bones—removed the most critical nutrient bottleneck in global agriculture.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of grind
Verb
  • But so will filters offering subtle beautification effects — such as smoothing skin tone or adding a slight eye glow.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Together, these efforts can help smooth the often difficult path from the first unexplained symptoms to an accurate diagnosis, while reducing the risk of both misdiagnosis and unnecessary delays.
    — Bruce Bebo, STAT, 24 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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