SANDING Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

sanding

verb

present participle of sand

as in rubbing

to make smooth by friction painstakingly sanded down the wooden floors of the old house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 sanding Inside the one that serves as Lestat’s luxe tour bus, someone is sanding down his wooden coffin. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 June 2026 Their work included sanding the benches along the Naperville Riverwalk. — Evgenia Anastasakos, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 Embrace the act of adding to a work table's patina, let your copper sit on display, and don't worry about sanding and re-staining old wood. — Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 27 Apr. 2026 Consider sanding and staining the wood, or at least providing a sealant, to help protect against the elements. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 3 June 2026 Rolls-Royce artisans later sealed each piece beneath ten layers of lacquer before sanding and polishing the surfaces to the mirror-like finish expected of the brand. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 During a walk-through for reporters on Thursday, construction noises — particularly sanding and hammering — could be heard. — ABC News, 11 June 2026 By contrast, the years since then saw game designers formalizing language around the craft, focusing on sanding off rough edges, and holding the player’s hand to make sure no player had a bad experience because of an edge case. — ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026 Then sanding, priming, spraying back at my own shop to create numerous avatars of her including a male trixter hero version named the ‘Frozen Charlatan’ who is the chrome metallic alter ego. — Chris Willman, Variety, 9 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanding

Verb

Plus, extra padding around the heel helps prevent rubbing during long days on your feet.

— Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Continue rubbing until the friction lifts the residue from the fabric.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 July 2026

Definition of rubbing

Verb

Parker Kitternan was busy at the console of the church's pipe organ, polishing his musical tribute for the weekend.

— Joe Holden, CBS News, 29 June 2026
The deceptively roomy, buttery-smooth leather style features a convertible crossbody strap, metal feet, interior pockets, and an outfit-polishing silhouette.

— Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 13 June 2026

Definition of polishing

Verb

The hike includes the park’s east side on the Grasslands Trail, which leads to a Kumeyaay grinding rocks site and the scenic Old Mission Dam overlook.

— Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026
Those particles may have been grinding in the joint, causing mechanical wear on the cobalt-chromium femoral head that released cobalt into the surrounding tissue and bloodstream.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of grinding

Verb

Those filing the lawsuit alleged that the agreements gave Disney significant leverage over streaming bundle prices, limited competitors' ability to offer lower-cost alternatives and contributed to higher prices for consumers.

— James Powel, USA Today, 6 July 2026
For example, individual filers can receive up to $994, couples filing jointly can receive $1,491, and those providing essential care to SSI recipients can receive up to $498.

— Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026

Definition of filing

Verb

Finally, to ensure the doors are working smoothly, Sibley suggests applying high-quality car wax to the aluminum, buffing off the wax with a microfiber towel, and then finishing with a light coat of WD40 or Silicone spray on the rollers.

— Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
Use an applicator pad (often supplied with the wax) and start buffing with a fresh microfiber towel.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026

Definition of buffing

Verb

Companies that act early—by strengthening resilience, investing in capacity, sharpening worker skills, and rethinking supply chains—will be better positioned to capture demand as it shifts.

— Eric Kutcher, Fortune, 2 July 2026
The attention to sharpening those skills could be paying off.

— Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Definition of sharpening

Browse Nearby Words

sandglasses

sanding

sandpaper

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

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Synonyms of sanding

verb

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