as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish
the rubbed brass of the wall sconce showed my reflection
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of rubbed
Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Vähäsarja vigorously rubbed some cups on Landers’s back—cupping creates a vacuum and stimulates blood flow—and turned the whole thing bright pink.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Before thermometers and urgent care, white rum rubbed on the forehead or chest was a fever fix; a splash on a new building’s foundation was a blessing for protection.
—Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And while it was expected the two sides would part ways this offseason, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn rubbed Rodgers the wrong way after an awkward meeting between the two to discuss their future together.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Spills can be blotted (never rubbed) with a dry cloth since the fabric is non-absorptive, and for more stubborn stains, dry cleaning is recommended.
—Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
The bug’s feces can also end up inside or near a home and then be incidentally ingested or rubbed into the skin or mucous membrane.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Life has rubbed me the wrong way too.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2025
Of the 21 museums under the umbrella of the Smithsonian Institution, one in particular seems recently to have rubbed President Donald Trump the wrong way.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
Freeland agreed with Doyle that the negative coverage has rubbed some players the wrong way.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Vähäsarja vigorously rubbed some cups on Landers’s back—cupping creates a vacuum and stimulates blood flow—and turned the whole thing bright pink.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Before thermometers and urgent care, white rum rubbed on the forehead or chest was a fever fix; a splash on a new building’s foundation was a blessing for protection.
—Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And while it was expected the two sides would part ways this offseason, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn rubbed Rodgers the wrong way after an awkward meeting between the two to discuss their future together.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Spills can be blotted (never rubbed) with a dry cloth since the fabric is non-absorptive, and for more stubborn stains, dry cleaning is recommended.
—Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
The bug’s feces can also end up inside or near a home and then be incidentally ingested or rubbed into the skin or mucous membrane.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Life has rubbed me the wrong way too.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2025
Of the 21 museums under the umbrella of the Smithsonian Institution, one in particular seems recently to have rubbed President Donald Trump the wrong way.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbed
Adjective
-
Inside, the brand’s iconic satin Aetherna finish creates a play of light and shadow, On the outside, a polished gold edge accentuates the three-dimensionality of the shapes, which embrace a luminous diamond.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
According to Pinterest’s 2025 Fall Trends Report, searches for preppy staples are skyrocketing as folks embrace this polished aesthetic.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Managers heard directly how decisions had eroded loyalty.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Chinese policymakers have intensified efforts aimed at reining in excessive price cuts that have eroded corporate profits while doing little to spur demand.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Remember how agitated Laura got when Daniel scraped his knee mountain biking?—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The owner’s digital presence is also scraped to produce an 8–10-page brand guide that the client signs off on as both authentic and compelling.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Doctors sawed off part of the bone, smoothed and flattened the rest and closed the wound with skin and soft tissue.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Card networks and domestic wallet apps have smoothed many edges, yet many of those wallets still use the same traditional systems.—
Alvin Kan,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The ridiculously nourishing formula leaves you glistening but never greasy, with the coconut, açai, and brazil nut oils restoring suppleness to a level that pleased our testers as much as its tropical, coconutty scent and mess-free pump.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
What can any of us make of our momentary intimate lives in such an immense world, with equally immense unknowns, mysteries as great as death or the whale, as deep as love or the ocean, as sad and beautiful as a jellyfish torn and glistening in a small fortress of shore rock?—
Natalie Diaz
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Posing next to Colman Domingo and Salma Hayek Pinault (who wore an elegant black Balenciaga suit dress), Moore’s glitzy look shone.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The shooter wore dark clothing and fired from a building roof some distance away to the courtyard where the event at which Kirk was speaking took place.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Some people take all the components off the frame, strip off all the decals, then get the whole thing sanded and powder-coated with a fresh coat of paint.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Beneath the surface of this glossy novel is a heartfelt depiction of the obstacles aspirant writers face in trying to both produce and publish.—
Susan Coll
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Rather than relying solely on glossy imagery or abstract measurements, its website takes a consumer-first approach.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rubbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbed. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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