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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rub
Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
Toki Doki: The Eat Street burger joint is serving wings with both a dry rub and a homemade, gluten-free gochujang sauce.
—Kyle Stokes, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025
Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
The rest of the body is blanketed in soft, pale hairs called vellus hairs, which wick sweat to keep us cool, and thicker, more visible guard hairs, which protect the skin against damage from rubbing and scratching.
—Ariel Bleicher, Quanta Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Noun
Original Price: $34.90 Sale Price: $32.40 (7% off) Buy Now on Amazon
Vicks VapoRub Chest Rub Ointment
A classic, family-friendly chest rub that works wonders for congestion, Vicks VapoRub is a must-have for allergy season.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
Toki Doki: The Eat Street burger joint is serving wings with both a dry rub and a homemade, gluten-free gochujang sauce.
—Kyle Stokes, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
Two abrasive characters rubbed each other up the wrong way and Clough left in 1973.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
The rest of the body is blanketed in soft, pale hairs called vellus hairs, which wick sweat to keep us cool, and thicker, more visible guard hairs, which protect the skin against damage from rubbing and scratching.
—Ariel Bleicher, Quanta Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rub
Noun
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Not everyone with a mild headache needs a CT scan of the brain.—
Paul Hsieh,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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Dehydration can be dangerous and may result in headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and other unpleasant symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.—
Sarah Klein,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Famously, stage and film star Sir Sean Connery openly discussed wearing a headpiece in all of his James Bond roles.—
Rhiannon Frater,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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She was buried wearing a cloak of blue and brown feathers, seemingly from a macaw of the Amazon rainforest.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This is a major project that requires dismantling, sanding, stripping, and prepping cabinets properly for the best-looking results.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2025
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Corbet’s real crush is on the 1990s and 2000s products of high-end, coffee-table-book designers such as Tadao Ando or Peter Zumthor, who favoured singular, funeral monuments, with an obsessive sanding away of brutalism’s rugged surfaces.—
Matt Shaw,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The usual approach looks like this: find the job, polish your resume, hit apply, and hope for the best.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Under Ledru, Tiffany is polishing the brand by linking its legacy to the now.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Yet, that $250,000 could well be enough to become more than just a thorn in the side of the ransomware industry if Halcyon has anything to do with.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Steyer’s company, long a thorn in the tech mogul’s side, promotes safer tech for children.—
Parmy Olson,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The other is a more nebulous worry that programmable money, by definition, erodes individual autonomy.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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There is no question that high tariffs will erode Chinese exporters’ access to the U.S. market.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Just grinding that long, and then to finally get back.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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The place is a hit, though amid the music and revelry and sweaty bumping and grinding, Smoke and Stack have their hands full, making sure, for instance, that their patrons don’t try to pay for their drinks with wooden nickels.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The utility is also supporting emerging business models like charging-as-a-service, rideshare electrification, and curbside charging, while engaging with key stakeholders like the Taxi & Limousine Commission and city permitting agencies to smooth the path forward.—
Stacy Noblet,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Glycerin and panthenol help smooth and soften, while plant extracts like prickly pear support healthy-looking texture and shine.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rub. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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