rubbed 1 of 2

adjective

as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish the rubbed brass of the wall sconce showed my reflection

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rubbed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of rub
1
as in eroded
to damage or diminish by continued friction the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in scraped
to make smooth by friction the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in smoothed
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 rubbed
Verb
Flores says this helps prevent dirt and debris from being rubbed into and scratching the surface during the cleaning process. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026 Brown alleged Wilhelmy rubbed her stomach, touched her shoulders and spanked her despite objections. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026 Chemical filters, such as avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate, appear clear when rubbed on the skin but sometimes feel oily. — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 9 June 2026 But with options ranging from thick-cut to center-cut, smoked to dry-rubbed, and organic or conventional, how is a shopper supposed to know which brand has the best bacon? — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 25 June 2026 People rubbed elbows — literally. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 But did Spilotro go about life as an upstanding model citizen who rubbed elbows with the Vegas elite, while quietly and stealthily protecting the Mafia's financial interests in Vegas casinos? — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 23 June 2026 But the quiet-part-out-loud here is that the Duffer Brothers ditching Netflix for a four-year deal at Paramount seems to have rubbed high-ranking Netflix executives the wrong way, the first source told THR. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026 With its Jewish delis, atmospheric dive bars, and underground music scene, the Mile End neighborhood minted the defining Montreal cool of the indie aughts—a place where cardiganed Italian grandmas rubbed shoulders with tattooed creatives. — Jen Rose Smith, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed
  1. polished
  2. eroded
  3. scraped
  4. smoothed
  5. glistening
  6. wore
  7. sanded
  8. coated
Adjective
  • The skirt’s front slit detail looks polished, while allowing for easy movement and extra breathability.
    — Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Go for a pair in neutral colors or polished finishes—they'll have the same vibe without feeling so over-the-top.
    — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 3 July 2026
Definition of polished
Verb
  • Fierce domestic competition has eroded its footprint in China, one of its most important markets.
    — Andrew Staples, Fortune, 3 July 2026
  • Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of eroded
Verb
  • As the scribes’ pens scraped the parchment, the words became inscribed upon their soul.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • When a user asked boat-botany why New Reddit isn’t scraped as often as Old Reddit, the Reddit employee pointed to a comment by another user.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026
Definition of scraped
Verb
  • The hair at the crown is smoothed back but not slick—in fact, there’s a decent amount of volume up top—with virtually no visible part.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 2 July 2026
  • The standout attachment for me is the large round barrel brush, which smoothed my hair with ease and didn’t tug or snag it along the way.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 July 2026
Definition of smoothed
Adjective
  • The base is a matte cat-eye, but the whole design is finished with a shiny top coat for a glistening melted-Popsicle effect.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 July 2026
  • The 75,000 square foot, multi-level space attracts world famous DJs and guests and exists as a glistening jewel in the crown of Caesars Palace’s broad range of entertainment venues.
    — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of glistening
Verb
  • Most opponents wore red, the color that has united grassroots organizations across the city against data centers.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
  • Paltrow wore a black, strapless gown and buckled slippers, while Martin sported a two-tone brown-and-blue sweater over a white T-shirt, with brown corduroy pants and a stylishly thin belt.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of wore
Verb
  • So that’s a long time for the edges to get sanded off and turned into these happy folkloric stories.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026
  • Paint can be stripped or sanded down and stained so the natural wood of these pieces can really shine.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026
Definition of sanded
Verb
  • Add chicken, pineapple, pecans, celery, and scallions; fold until evenly coated.
    — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 29 June 2026
  • Dust coated coastal communities.
    — Regina Cano Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
Definition of coated

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Cite this Entry

“Rubbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rubbed

Nglish: Translation of rubbed for Spanish Speakers

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