as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish
the rubbed brass of the wall sconce showed my reflection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in eroded
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 scraped
to make smooth by friction
the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in smoothed
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rubbed
Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
The savory chili-garlic oil rubbed on the baby eggplants make these an irresistible snack that are perfect light bites for all to enjoy.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Not the ring walks under stadium lights at the home of his beloved Ipswich Town or having rubbed shoulders with music star Ed Sheeran.
—Chris McKenna, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Rihanna was thought to be ticked off at the Met Gala Monday, when her longtime partner A$AP Rocky was seen talking to a woman, which the internet believed rubbed the superstar the wrong way.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
Throughout the weekend, recognizable creators and athletes rubbed elbows within the activation, situated right in the middle of the action at Turn 1 of the race course.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
According to a source, two Marlins regimes -- this one and the previous one -- weren’t particularly high on Johnston, whose attitude rubbed some the wrong way.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Addressing the latest dust-up, Kimmel — who was yanked off the air for a week last fall over remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that really rubbed MAGA the wrong way — certainly had a bevy of material to work with.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Kuroda mentioned other small incidents that rubbed him the wrong way as well.
—Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
The girl buried her head into Blair, who rubbed circles on her back.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
The savory chili-garlic oil rubbed on the baby eggplants make these an irresistible snack that are perfect light bites for all to enjoy.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Not the ring walks under stadium lights at the home of his beloved Ipswich Town or having rubbed shoulders with music star Ed Sheeran.
—Chris McKenna, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Rihanna was thought to be ticked off at the Met Gala Monday, when her longtime partner A$AP Rocky was seen talking to a woman, which the internet believed rubbed the superstar the wrong way.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
Throughout the weekend, recognizable creators and athletes rubbed elbows within the activation, situated right in the middle of the action at Turn 1 of the race course.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
According to a source, two Marlins regimes -- this one and the previous one -- weren’t particularly high on Johnston, whose attitude rubbed some the wrong way.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
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
Kuroda mentioned other small incidents that rubbed him the wrong way as well.
—Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed
Adjective
-
This approach allows other design elements, like furniture and decor, to stand out while maintaining a harmonious and polished aesthetic.—
Macie Stump,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
-
In Mayfair, amid art galleries, private clubs, and five-star addresses, a new ritual is playing out behind noren curtains and polished doors.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The federal gas tax has also remained unchanged since 1993, which experts say has already eroded the Highway Trust Fund’s purchasing power when accounting for inflation.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Polanco-Galdamez said such laws have further eroded trust in healthcare systems among underserved families.—
Andrew Jones,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Once your tsukemen appears — terrifically chewy noodles built to catch every drop of the accompanying half-broth, half-gravy, as heady as drippings scraped from a roasting pan — the world recedes.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Late Wednesday morning at Jalisco’s in Kansas City, Kansas, longtime customers scraped their forks against their plates, enjoying some of their final bites at the restaurant.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Miriam smoothed a hand over her lace buba.—
‘Pemi Aguda,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
Whatever is left can be smoothed across the rest of the head.—
Diana Tsui,
Footwear News,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Marcloid may often employ the sonic language of misery and darkness, but her glistening synths, rubbery rhythms, and radioactive colors transform a raging storm into an expression of radiant, high-definition joy.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
8 May 2026
-
The entry foyer, with its vaulted ceiling and glistening floor, is welcoming and impressive.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Rihanna wore tiger-print Alaïa d’Orsay pumps twice in New York in January, first with denim-on-denim and then with a matching coat, while Angel Reese went bolder that month in blue leopard-print Jennifer Le thigh-high boots with fox-fur trim.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
-
The first piece visitors encounter upon entering Iris van Herpen’s new exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in New York is the designer’s 2016 bubble dress—a precursor to the 2026 iteration, which also emitted blown bubbles, that went viral when Eileen Gu wore it to the Met Gala last week.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Even then the metal was sanded finely and in the Lucca’s case the radiator and spoked wheels were fitted with covers for improved aerodynamics.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
-
The rigid jean is hand-sanded to emphasize its fullness.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Once the fibers appear flattened, coated with dust, or no longer attract particles, they should be discarded.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
-
It should be noted that the underside of the bladder (which is in contact with the user's back) is coated with soft-touch fabric, plus an optional mesh back panel can be added for extra breathability.—
Ben Coxworth
May 11,
New Atlas,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbed. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
