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
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Recent Examples of rubbed
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
With its Jewish delis, atmospheric dive bars, and underground music scene, the Mile End neighborhood minted the defining Montreal cool of the indie aughts—a place where cardiganed Italian grandmas rubbed shoulders with tattooed creatives.
—
Jen Rose Smith,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 June 2026
But the quiet-part-out-loud here is that the Duffer Brothers ditching Netflix for a four-year deal at Paramount seems to have rubbed high-ranking Netflix executives the wrong way, the first source told THR.
—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Chemical filters, such as avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate, appear clear when rubbed on the skin but sometimes feel oily.
—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
9 June 2026
The good times keep rolling through the commercial breaks, as A-listers rubbed elbows, and at the afterparties, where the big stars enjoyed burgers from Shake Shack and got their drink on.
—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Fresh lavender and lemon zest get rubbed into the sugar with your hands—a simple trick that perfumes the blueberry-peach filling with floral, citrusy notes.
—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 June 2026
The administration’s decision to import large quantities of Argentinian beef has also rubbed many ranchers the wrong way.
—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
4 June 2026
The pair rubbed shoulders at the 2024 Super Bowl, joined forces for Rolling Stone's Musicians on Musicians issue in 2020, and moved album release dates around for each other.
—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Verb
But did Spilotro go about life as an upstanding model citizen who rubbed elbows with the Vegas elite, while quietly and stealthily protecting the Mafia's financial interests in Vegas casinos?
—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
With its Jewish delis, atmospheric dive bars, and underground music scene, the Mile End neighborhood minted the defining Montreal cool of the indie aughts—a place where cardiganed Italian grandmas rubbed shoulders with tattooed creatives.
—
Jen Rose Smith,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 June 2026
But the quiet-part-out-loud here is that the Duffer Brothers ditching Netflix for a four-year deal at Paramount seems to have rubbed high-ranking Netflix executives the wrong way, the first source told THR.
—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Chemical filters, such as avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate, appear clear when rubbed on the skin but sometimes feel oily.
—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
9 June 2026
The good times keep rolling through the commercial breaks, as A-listers rubbed elbows, and at the afterparties, where the big stars enjoyed burgers from Shake Shack and got their drink on.
—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Fresh lavender and lemon zest get rubbed into the sugar with your hands—a simple trick that perfumes the blueberry-peach filling with floral, citrusy notes.
—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 June 2026
The administration’s decision to import large quantities of Argentinian beef has also rubbed many ranchers the wrong way.
—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
4 June 2026
The pair rubbed shoulders at the 2024 Super Bowl, joined forces for Rolling Stone's Musicians on Musicians issue in 2020, and moved album release dates around for each other.
—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed
Adjective
-
For a non-stuffy button-down shirt like Kidman’s, this linen option nicely balances a relaxed yet polished look.
-
The plan is to keep the AGI code open while selling polished products on top of it, with the blockchain hidden from view.
Verb
-
The oil supply shock caused by the Iran war has eroded global demand for crude — but a lasting resolution to the conflict could drive a surge in supply volumes and trigger a major oil overhang next year, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday.
-
Israel’s failed forever wars in Iran and Lebanon have further eroded Netanyahu’s prospects.
Verb
-
Most of the site has been cleaned and scraped, while the work at a nearby synagogue that suffered severe damage is just beginning.
-
Compliance and Ethics in Online Reputation Management Reputable ORM companies should avoid fake reviews, astroturfing, bot engagement, scraped-data tactics, and takedowns that may violate platform rules or the law.
Verb
-
Inside the cage was a mouse—the mouse that Renova had significantly smoothed—eliciting a few gasps from nearby assistants.
-
Ahead of opening arguments, Rinderknecht smoothed back his hair, and Haney helped adjust his tie before giving him a pat on the back.
Adjective
-
Upon entering, guests are treated to an entry foyer with a glistening floor of Brazilian cherry offset by a thin maple inlay.
-
The streets lead to a pale-sand public beach with a fishing pier, a charming park, and glistening views of the delicate and pristine Gulf Islands.
Verb
-
The Nike Air Max Joga Bonito R9 mashes up the boot Ronaldo wore for the 1998 World Cup with the Air Max 95.
-
Witherspoon wore a hot pink plunging Prada gown to the occasion—perfectly on brand for Elle.
Verb
-
Paint can be stripped or sanded down and stained so the natural wood of these pieces can really shine.
-
But even slightly sanded down, their work puts other games to shame.
Verb
-
The chairs are crafted from weather-resistant PE rattan and powder-coated steel that stand up to harsh UV rays, rain, and other outdoor elements.
-
Each nail is coated in pink chrome powder that flashes a beetle-like green in the light.
Cite this Entry
“Rubbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbed. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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