Synonyms of lubricate

lubricate

verb

ˈlü-brə-ˌkāt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grease
• oil
• wax
• slick
• wash
• wet
• soak
• bathe
• water
• douse
• drench
• souse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough
• roughen
• dry
• coarsen
• dehydrate
• sear
• parch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lubricate

Your eyes constantly produce a thin layer of basal tears to keep the cornea lubricated, and the duct quietly shuttles that trickle into the nose, where it’s absorbed or blended into normal nasal mucus without a trace. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

The lubricating substance allows snails to stick to the ground more easily and travel more smoothly. — Laura Dorwart, Health, 22 July 2026

Nose grease is the perfect fire starter Is there enough oil on the side of your nose to lubricate the top of a bow-drill spindle? — Tim MacWelch, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026

Or Gaudette represents the brave, bold, knock-you-on-your-backside future of filmmaking in a much worse way, in which time, money, actors or anything human the process might lubricate or use as lubricant has quietly slipped away. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026