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rub

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of rub

something that is a source of irritation
  • Even what seems to be a dream job usually turns out to have its fair share of rubs.
Synonyms of rub

aggravation, annoyance, bother, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexation
Words Related to rub

discomfort, fleabite, pinprick

affront, insult, offense (or offence)

upset, worry

affliction, albatross, burden, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore

anxiety, plight, predicament, tribulation, trouble

hang-up, pet peeve, problem

annoyer, disturber, harasser, mischief, offender

pandora's box
Near Antonyms of rub

delight, joy, pleasure

rub

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of rub

1 to damage or diminish by continued friction
  • The brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use.
Synonyms of rub

abrade, chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, rasp, wear
Words Related to rub

file, gnaw, grate, graze, grind, nibble, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scuff, shave

erase, reduce, rub out, wear out, wipe (away)

bite, break down, break up, chew, corrode, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, eat

hone, sharpen, whet
2 to make smooth by friction
  • The furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper.
Synonyms of rub

buff, file, grind, hone, rasp, sand
Words Related to rub

plane, scrape

sandblast, scour

burnish, dress, gloss, polish, shine, smooth

edge, hone, sharpen, strop, whet

regrind
Near Antonyms of rub

coarsen, rough (up), roughen, scuff
3 to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
  • The butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed.
Synonyms of rub

buff, burnish, dress, furbish, gloss, grind, polish, shine, smooth
Words Related to rub

sleek, slick

coat, glaze, japan, lacquer, varnish

face, finish, veneer

brighten

file, rasp, sand, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scrub

bob, bone, lap
Near Antonyms of rub

rough (up), roughen, ruffle, scuff (up)

Learn More about rub

  1. Dictionary: Definition of rub Medical Dictionary: Definition of rub Spanish Central: Translation of rub Nglish: Translation of rub for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rub for Arabic speakers

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