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
Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 28 Sep. 2025
While his rubs are spiked with both Old Bay and Pakistani flavors, his menu is inspired more by road trips he’s taken.
—Farhan Mustafa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
Immediately rub your hands with olive oil to remove most of the capsaicin, and then wash them thoroughly with soap and warm water.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Noun
The hugs, kisses and belly rubs are not ending for Sgt.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 28 Sep. 2025
While his rubs are spiked with both Old Bay and Pakistani flavors, his menu is inspired more by road trips he’s taken.
—Farhan Mustafa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
This is precisely the case with Garnier’s All-in-1 Micellar Cleansing Water, which spares you from having to rub at your face or use water to rinse off a cleanser.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
Immediately rub your hands with olive oil to remove most of the capsaicin, and then wash them thoroughly with soap and warm water.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rub
Noun
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Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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But just one week later, on June 1, 2019, a splitting headache and blurred vision sent her racing back to the hospital.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Tempo could help wear them out, as the Giants have pressured the quarterback on nearly 46% of their defensive snaps when Carter, Burns and Thibodeaux are on the field at the same time, according to Next Gen Stats.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
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In her bestie Selena Gomez’s wedding photos, the Rare Beauty founder appeared to wear a number of white dresses for her nuptials to Benny Blanco in September.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Additional changes in the new beach include a stabilizing stone wall, dry prairie grasses to deter birds and sand with larger grain size.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Reiss’ script was a Black List find that either wasn’t reworked enough by committee or so sanded down in the studio churn that all personality was drained in the process.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Anthropic updated the rule in July, allowing prospective hires to polish their resumes, cover letters, and applications with the advanced tech.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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Egos will not be polished but pushed to one side as Tuchel looks for chemistry and cohesion in his group.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Often a thorn in the side of leadership, Massie is unlikely to strike any deal with leadership to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Oct. 2025
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Buds will fail to open properly, and some of the canes will have multitudes of thorns.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When people stop looking for work, unemployment improves on paper even as productive capacity erodes in reality.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
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This has eroded the cash flow and equity farmers need to withstand changes in the market.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Indiana Fever, a part of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, have been ground zero for the W’s soaring financial standing.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
16 Oct. 2025
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The breaches come as the air travel industry has been dealing with an onslaught of cyberattacks that have caused disruptions for customers and ground some of the world’s largest airports to a halt.—
Martin Goillandeau,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Bra-Ilelujah uses hosiery on the bar wing, because Blakely sought a nude, flat and smoothing look on the wearer’s back, Hanson said.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
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Spoon mixture into an ungreased 10-inch cast-iron skillet, and smooth into an even layer.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rub. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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