as in to grease
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
used a petroleum based machine oil to lubricate the gears
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Recent Examples of lubricate
Or, as Philadelphia Eagles fans would have it, go lubricate the lampposts with the tears of their vanquished rivals.
—
Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Some will lubricate the digestive tract, helping prevent a buildup of hair, others are laxative that keeps the passages flowing.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Politeness lubricates trust, not only in everyday chatting, but also in high-status contexts like executive dashboards or medical charting.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Lube Keeping your chain (fairly) clean and (appropriately) lubricated will extend its life and prolong the life of the rest of your drivetrain.
—Chris Cona, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lubricate
Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Some will lubricate the digestive tract, helping prevent a buildup of hair, others are laxative that keeps the passages flowing.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Politeness lubricates trust, not only in everyday chatting, but also in high-status contexts like executive dashboards or medical charting.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Lube Keeping your chain (fairly) clean and (appropriately) lubricated will extend its life and prolong the life of the rest of your drivetrain.
—Chris Cona, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lubricate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lubricate
Verb
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Lightly grease a 17x11-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; line with parchment paper.—
Sabrina Weiss,
People.com,
30 June 2025
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Lightly grease a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Generously oil the grates, then add the chicken and cook until the bottom is charred, 5 to 8 minutes.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 July 2025
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Forget about the need to remember to oil a chain, constantly check for chain sag, look for wear, and replace sprockets when changing the chain.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lubricate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lubricate. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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