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, aggro [British], bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, annoyance, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexationWords 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 boxNear Antonyms of rub delight, joy, pleasure

1 to damage or diminish by continued friction the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use Synonyms of rub chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, rasp, abrade, wearWords 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, hone, rasp, grind, sandWords Related to rub plane, scrape; sandblast, scour; burnish, dress, gloss, polish, shine, smooth; edge, hone, sharpen, strop, whet; regrindNear 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, smoothenWords Related to rub sleek, slick; coat, glaze, japan, lacquer, varnish; face, finish, veneer; brighten; file, rasp, sand, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scrub; bob, bone, lapNear Antonyms of rub rough (up), roughen, ruffle, scuff (up)