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 Oh, and a pad from an HTC Vive, because nobody wants the sharp edges of layered plastic extruded from a 3D printer rubbing against their face. — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026 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 After two consecutive championships and more than a decade of rubbing the rest of Major League Baseball’s noses in their extravagant wealth, the Los Angeles Dodgers were not going to be missed. — Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026 Hold the apple under cool running water for 20 seconds, gently rubbing the surface. — Natalia Vela, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2026 Inside the courtroom, Brand appeared to be rubbing what looked like a rock or pebble in his hand. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Privately, the Kremlin leader must be rubbing his hands with glee. — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026 Some of these practices have been reported on before, such as rubbing deodorant against colored pages from magazines to make eye shadow. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbing
  1. wearing
  2. grinding
  3. polishing
  4. eroding
  5. filing
  6. smoothing
  7. fraying
  8. sanding
Verb
  • The deputies involved in the incident were not wearing body cameras.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators say that surveillance video of the kidnapping shows a man wearing black gloves getting out of the same vehicle.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of wearing
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 grinding
Verb
  • 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
  • There may have been a time when hosting a holiday dinner meant pulling out every platter, polishing the silver, and making sure there were enough wine glasses for a small army.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of polishing
Verb
  • Over the same time, shooting of Americans by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers began to dominate headlines, eroding support for one of the president's major policy initiatives.
    — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • This stuck ice preserves what’s beneath instead of eroding it.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of eroding
Verb
  • The individual plaintiffs join the three news outlets in filing a First Amendment lawsuit against the administration.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Increasing the time for filing a complaint would be an update to the Congressional Accountability Act, which requires Congress to follow many of the same employment laws that apply to the private sector.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of filing
Verb
  • At-home chemical peels can help maintain certain results by exfoliating dead skin cells, smoothing texture, and gradually fading lingering discoloration.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Oils are best thought of as a strand treatment, smoothing the cuticle, cutting frizz and reducing breakage during brushing and styling.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of smoothing
Verb
  • The murder of two Israeli soldiers in the West Bank is the jumping-off point for a large-scale invasion of the Palestinian territory, a move that would further test the nation’s fraying relationship with the United States.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
  • During the Lin regime, one source told us that relationships with filmmakers were fraying.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of fraying
Verb
  • Brush everything with an egg wash and top cutouts with sanding sugar.
    — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 28 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rubbing

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