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
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Recent Examples of rub
Zacharia Washington, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The bold flavor of the spice rub could overpower a milder fish.
—Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
Sam Lee, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Their ice maker expelled large clumps of wet salt, which, when rubbed, dissolved into an oily, foul-smelling substance.
—Nick Bowlin, The Frontier, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rub
Noun
Barrel and Bones The smokehouse is offering two Game Day Wing Playoff Packs — one that includes 20 wings for $35 and another that includes 50 wings for $85 — with a variety of flavors, sauces and rubs.
—Zacharia Washington, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The bold flavor of the spice rub could overpower a milder fish.
—Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
That rubbed City fans up the wrong way, especially as many were not too happy with his performances anyway.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Their ice maker expelled large clumps of wet salt, which, when rubbed, dissolved into an oily, foul-smelling substance.
—Nick Bowlin, The Frontier, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rub
Noun
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Unexpectedly, though, operators stumbled across an issue with ground support equipment that could cause more headaches for a crucial moon mission that has already slipped at least a month from its target launch date.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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Running out of memory, setting up a new phone or simply wanting peace of mind, Picture Keeper removes the headache from backups.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With only 12 weeks to pull together a wardrobe for the cast, and few of Jones’s old clothing in the archives, Rowe recreated some historical looks— such as the infamous red penguin-print pajama set (a version of the pajama top is worn by Jones on a school run in the new film).—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The Cowboy Carter artist shared yet another set of images on Instagram from the 2026 Super Bowl, this time wearing a long brown coat with a matching hat and blue jeans.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The hard edges and rough parts were getting sanded down, and the arguments and ideas were more uniform.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
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The short’s dreamy black-and-white sequences, as well as its absence of character dialogue, sanded down AI’s rough edges.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Few industries are set to be as upended by AI as the spreadsheet-wrangling, PowerPoint presentation-polishing work done by Wall Street’s youngest bankers.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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Lint-free cotton cloths are best for polishing and buffing silver flatware and serving pieces.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The question over how Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement will impact the World Cup — when millions are expected to visit — remains a thorn in FIFA’s side.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Let’s go through your roses and thorns for some of the show’s most iconic scenes.—
Reshma Gopaldas,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Still, critics say the controversy risks distracting from preparations for the Games and eroding public confidence in the organizing committee.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
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If someone close erodes your self-belief, that’s not a loving situation.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Designed by Gove & Walsh, the building once housed a spice grinding mill, roasting plant, extract laboratory and print shop.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
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Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukrainian land, but over almost four years of grinding war, those territorial gains are thought to have cost Russia over a million casualties.—
Holly Williams,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The jeans have slimming panels with a crisscross design that shape and support curves, while the high front waist smooths the tummy area.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
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Chocolate Ganache smoothed between layers of rich chocolate cake topped with Praline Frosting and a warm Bourbon Glaze make this recipe fit for special occasions.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rub. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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