waxing 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of wax
1
as in greasing
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction waxing a surfboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whipping
slang to defeat by a large margin I can't believe I bet on a football team that ended up getting waxed 45-0

Synonyms & Similar Words

waxing

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of wax
1
as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the commitment of the young volunteers to the cause seems to wax and wane

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in becoming
to eventually have as a state or quality waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend

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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 waxing
Verb
However, the light cast by the waxing moon — just four days from being full — will likely reduce the number of visible meteors by hiding fainter Orionids from sight. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026 With the benefit of hindsight, music journalists are now waxing nostalgic about more recent eras. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 Tonight’s waxing gibbous moon will be nearly 90 percent illuminated. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 23 Sep. 2026 The employees had been cleaning and waxing floors with rags soaked in cleaning or waxing solvents, disposing of the towels in a plastic trash can. — Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The wild swings of recent weeks, driven by waxing and waning hopes for a lasting boost to corporate profits from artificial intelligence, have abated in the past several days. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 Today, restoration usually involves hiding blemishes with cosmetics or waxing over small abrasions. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 Yet despite his affinity for Wallace, none of Randolph’s waxing poetry turns false in the wash. — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026 Unveiling it early frees up Feige and company to either show off more exclusive footage or to spend the time waxing poetic about Infinity Vision. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waxing
  1. greasing
  2. whipping
  3. increasing
  4. becoming
  5. oiling
  6. trimming
  7. rising
  8. growing
Verb
  • For instance, if $100 was the agreed upon rate for a trucking run and the invoice lists that same figure, the system automatically releases funds, greasing the skids of commerce.
    — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prep your pan by greasing the bottom and sides of a 13x9 with cooking spray or butter.
    — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026
Definition of greasing
Verb
  • Now imagine whipping your phone out after work, telling the world about it, and landing a brand deal worth $10K or more.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Now imagine the same hot and dry conditions, but with the Santa Anas whipping at 40 miles an hour.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • Beyond domestic challenges, CATL is also scrambling to build more plants in Europe to avoid running afoul of increasing EU protectionism.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • While the disease remains more common among women over 50, diagnoses among younger women are increasing, prompting cancer specialists to encourage earlier conversations about individual risk.
    — Melissa May, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of increasing
Verb
  • The Valkyries made history in their inaugural season, becoming the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its debut year.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Told without the participation of a single male actor, The Women turned Hollywood’s all-boys club on its head, becoming a major hit in a year dominated by Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz.
    — Raymond Ang, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of becoming
Verb
  • Bulloch notes skipping oiling the grates is another common mistake.
    — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Botero uses the Hair & Scalp Oil for traditional Ayurvedic hair oiling treatments.
    — Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of oiling
Verb
  • The younger Bolsonaro's other proposals include trimming the size of the Brazilian state to boost economic growth.
    — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But new technologies are opening the door to transition a portion of the inputs from petrochemicals to plants, trimming the environmental impact of these fibers.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • Fighting autocracy and inequality The Ford Foundation frames its new plan as its answer to rising autocracy, widening inequality, and fading public trust.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • This was in 2024 and 2025, when the AI craze was in full swing and Claude and ChatGPT adoption was rising.
    — Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of rising
Verb
  • The additional site will further strengthen the company’s manufacturing network in Colorado and provide additional capacity for its growing space and sensor systems business.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone who has worked at a fast-growing company at the edge of technology knows that obligations, circumstances and products change daily.
    — Daniel Kjellén, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of growing

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Cite this Entry

“Waxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxing. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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