1
as in greasing
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
waxing a surfboard
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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
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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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2
as in becoming
to eventually have as a state or quality
waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend
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Recent Examples of waxing
Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The hotel’s Beauty Bar offers nail and waxing services, plus massages.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Look to the eastern sky at midday on April 22 to find the 30%-lit waxing crescent moon close to the horizon, with its lower half hidden in shadow.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The early-setting, waxing crescent moon will provide a perfectly dark sky in the evening.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
First, corporate profits have been waxing much faster than GDP.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
Known as the Dragon Slayer, he’s often shown meditating, praying, waxing philosophical, and pontificating on nobility, integrity and honor.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
At the end of the month, when a waxing crescent moon is spotted in Saudi Arabia, nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide and less than 1% of Oklahomans who are Muslim, according to the Pew Research Center, will celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Oklahoman, 18 Mar. 2026
However, this year, the Orionids peak under a bright waxing gibbous moon, which will wash out many fainter meteors.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
What started as a 3-0 waxing by the Philadelphia Flyers has suddenly turned into a series as the Pittsburgh Penguins have won two straight to force a Game 6 back in Philadelphia.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The hotel’s Beauty Bar offers nail and waxing services, plus massages.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Look to the eastern sky at midday on April 22 to find the 30%-lit waxing crescent moon close to the horizon, with its lower half hidden in shadow.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The early-setting, waxing crescent moon will provide a perfectly dark sky in the evening.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
First, corporate profits have been waxing much faster than GDP.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
Known as the Dragon Slayer, he’s often shown meditating, praying, waxing philosophical, and pontificating on nobility, integrity and honor.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
At the end of the month, when a waxing crescent moon is spotted in Saudi Arabia, nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide and less than 1% of Oklahomans who are Muslim, according to the Pew Research Center, will celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Oklahoman, 18 Mar. 2026
However, this year, the Orionids peak under a bright waxing gibbous moon, which will wash out many fainter meteors.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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