as in headache
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 & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction
the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to sand
to make smooth by friction
the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rub
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Our readers weigh in Twenty-seven years ago today, when UConn played Duke down to the wire in the title game, my wife sat in front of me and asked for a shoulder rub.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
People will rub you the wrong way today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rub
Noun
First, apply a rub to tenderize the meat and load it with flavor before adding it to the slow cooker with a rich broth.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Our readers weigh in Twenty-seven years ago today, when UConn played Duke down to the wire in the title game, my wife sat in front of me and asked for a shoulder rub.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Addressing the latest dust-up, Kimmel — who was yanked off the air for a week last fall over remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that really rubbed MAGA the wrong way — certainly had a bevy of material to work with.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
People will rub you the wrong way today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rub
Noun
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Magic Mountain removed Revolution’s simple lap bars in 1992 and installed over-the-shoulder restraints — resulting in head-banging headaches for dismayed riders and making the coaster painfully unrideable.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
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Some people dealing with the infection, called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), can have headaches, dizziness, chills and stomach problems.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The actor wore a white cutout dress that revealed a light blue undergarment with a pale pink floral print, paired with white shoes and a blue bow.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
-
Supermodels Gigi Hadid and Irina Shayk both wore revealing looks on the carpet.—
Beatrice Dupuy,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Verb
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Embrace the act of adding to a work table's patina, let your copper sit on display, and don't worry about sanding and re-staining old wood.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
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The technique still needs sanding, and zero interceptions in 48 career games is concerning, but McCutchin’s combine testing gave his draft case a nice shot of nitrous.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That means steep hills, slick cobblestones, long outdoor lunches, golden-hour strolls, late-night cocktails, and somehow still looking polished through all of it.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
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Why had someone polished smooth one of the crania and decorated another with a pattern of scratch marks?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gast Studio’s Stem Vase, on show at group exhibition Deoron, features glossy oversized thorn shapes that give the object both a hostile presence and a pleasingly jagged profile, like a rose stem on steroids.—
Francesca Perry,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
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Shelter has long been a thorn in the side of the inflationary outlook for a very long time.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the process, however, one of the big distinguishing aspects of TV – the large audiences who once assembled to watch dramas, sitcoms and reality shows – has eroded.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Florida Mobile Home Act offers little real protection against excessive rent hikes or misleading practices that erode homeowners’ equity and quality of life.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The production, directed with the brooding fluidity that is David Cromer’s calling card, is most alive in the evolving dynamic between Nick and Jacki, whose romance happens by degrees then all at once before reality intervenes and the criminal justice bureaucracy grinds to a halt.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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And, over the weekend, that community showed up in the simplest way possible — side by side in a gym, grinding through a workout, and remembering the ones who didn’t make it home.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The complementary conditioner dials up the moisture with shea butter, murumuru butter, and amino acids to smooth and strengthen—leaving hair soft, bouncy, and ready for styling.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
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Its benefits span from firming and lift to smoothing texture and tone.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rub. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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