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
Relevance
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
Sara Aparacio, a resident cleaning expert at Homeaglow, equates scrubbing an appliance with an abrasive sponge to rubbing it with very fine sandpaper.
—
Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
People also can catch typhus by breathing in flea dirt or rubbing it into their eyes, the agency said.
—Don Sweeney
april 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Visitors to aquariums may notice that sea otters often blow bubbles and spin while rubbing their fur.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026
My hands are almost rubbing [the ground] sometimes.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rubbing
Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
People also can catch typhus by breathing in flea dirt or rubbing it into their eyes, the agency said.
—Don Sweeney
april 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Visitors to aquariums may notice that sea otters often blow bubbles and spin while rubbing their fur.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026
My hands are almost rubbing [the ground] sometimes.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rubbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbing
Verb
-
Eli Heidenreich walked down the long corridor, wearing his Navy service dress blues and the emotion of the moment all over his face.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Probably one of the most ingrained is wearing pastels during the spring and summer months, with trendsetters and designers rallying around one specific shade for the past sever seasons.—
Lucía Tejo,
Glamour,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Their experiments confirmed that adding a single squirt of water to coffee beans before grinding can significantly reduce the static electric charge on the resulting grounds.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This stock was a disaster from May 2025 through the November lows near $48, losing roughly half its value in a grinding downtrend.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With just over a month before the FIFA World Cup, Downtown Dallas is polishing, planning, and preparing for what could be one of the busiest stretches the city has ever seen.—
Steve Pickett,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Remove the stain by simply polishing it.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mammoth bluffs followed by last-minute retreats only deepened perceptions of inconsistency, further eroding deterrence.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
European carmakers lose premium brand status in China European carmakers are losing their premium brand status in China, as younger consumers opt for cars from domestic brands, further eroding Western firms’ prospects in a cutthroat global market.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Application workshops on filing a claim will be held in Boise on May 1-2 at the Idaho State Museum in Julia Davis Park.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Two Stagecoach festival attendees, Ellie, 27, and Angelique, 22, sat at tables farther back from the stage watching people filing out of the festival.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike many mineral sunscreens that can sit heavily on the skin, this one absorbs quickly and has a lightweight, smoothing effect.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But smoothing the appearance of fine lines around your eyes does not require a 12-step regimen or an appointment at the dermatologist’s office.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An elite soldier with a fraying mind is sent deep into a wartime nightmare, and the sweaty performances, bold musical choices, and beautiful cinematography take us there.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Use a soft brush — or even a toothbrush for tight crevices — and go gentle to avoid fraying the material.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The technique still needs sanding, and zero interceptions in 48 career games is concerning, but McCutchin’s combine testing gave his draft case a nice shot of nitrous.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
