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.
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Recent Examples of rubbed
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
Flores says this helps prevent dirt and debris from being rubbed into and scratching the surface during the cleaning process.
—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
27 June 2026
People rubbed elbows — literally.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
But with options ranging from thick-cut to center-cut, smoked to dry-rubbed, and organic or conventional, how is a shopper supposed to know which brand has the best bacon?
—
Karla Walsh,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
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
Verb
Brown alleged Wilhelmy rubbed her stomach, touched her shoulders and spanked her despite objections.
—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
Flores says this helps prevent dirt and debris from being rubbed into and scratching the surface during the cleaning process.
—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
27 June 2026
People rubbed elbows — literally.
—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
But with options ranging from thick-cut to center-cut, smoked to dry-rubbed, and organic or conventional, how is a shopper supposed to know which brand has the best bacon?
—
Karla Walsh,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed
Adjective
-
The skirt’s front slit detail looks polished, while allowing for easy movement and extra breathability.
-
Go for a pair in neutral colors or polished finishes—they'll have the same vibe without feeling so over-the-top.
Verb
-
Fierce domestic competition has eroded its footprint in China, one of its most important markets.
-
Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.
Verb
-
Language models consume trillions of tokens scraped from the web.
-
Her bare and scraped-up leg hung out from mid-thigh.
Verb
-
This, and other quirks of pronunciation or vocabulary, are easy tells when accents have otherwise smoothed into plain old American and traditional clothing has been shed in favor of jeans and T-shirts.
-
Inside the cage was a mouse—the mouse that Renova had significantly smoothed—eliciting a few gasps from nearby assistants.
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
-
Most opponents wore red, the color that has united grassroots organizations across the city against data centers.
-
Paltrow wore a black, strapless gown and buckled slippers, while Martin sported a two-tone brown-and-blue sweater over a white T-shirt, with brown corduroy pants and a stylishly thin belt.
Verb
-
So that’s a long time for the edges to get sanded off and turned into these happy folkloric stories.
-
Paint can be stripped or sanded down and stained so the natural wood of these pieces can really shine.
Verb
-
Add chicken, pineapple, pecans, celery, and scallions; fold until evenly coated.
-
Dust coated coastal communities.
Cite this Entry
“Rubbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbed. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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