1
as in wearing
to damage or diminish by continued friction
the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in grinding
to make smooth by friction
the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in polishing
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 rubbing
Other conditions associated with eye rubbing A corneal abrasion is a scratch in the thin, clear skin that covers the cornea and can be triggered by aggressive eye rubbing or a fingernail that inadvertently touches the cornea.
—
Neelam Patadia, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
Pour the marinade over and turn to thoroughly coat the chicken, rubbing the marinade between the skin and meat.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Throughout all three births, her husband’s role remained focused on supporting her through labor by rubbing her back, encouraging her through contractions and helping create a calm environment in the delivery room.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
Combine two parts vinegar with one part dish soap in a spray bottle and apply it to surfaces with soap scum, rubbing it in with a sponge or brush.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rubbing
Neelam Patadia, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
Pour the marinade over and turn to thoroughly coat the chicken, rubbing the marinade between the skin and meat.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Throughout all three births, her husband’s role remained focused on supporting her through labor by rubbing her back, encouraging her through contractions and helping create a calm environment in the delivery room.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
Combine two parts vinegar with one part dish soap in a spray bottle and apply it to surfaces with soap scum, rubbing it in with a sponge or brush.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rubbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbing
Verb
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On July 15th, 2020, the CDC Director recommended all Americans start wearing masks as a way to 'get the epidemic under control,' citing a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly (MMWR) study involving two hairstylists in Missouri.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
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Getting off the plane, Chamberlain was wearing shades on a gloomy day.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Nine crucial years of expansion and solidification of the pernicious institution went by, speeding the nation’s road toward a grinding war.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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After more than four years, Russia’s full-scale invasion has morphed into a grinding war of attrition where soldiers are being killed en masse, financial losses are piling up and Kyiv has started to liberate more land than Moscow has seized.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Another highlight of my visit was experiencing Bastien's Manicure, an in-spa collaboration with nail-care specialists Bastien Gonzalez, which pairs meticulous cuticle work and a thorough massage with a natural nail-polishing technique that eliminates the need for nail polish entirely.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
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There’s the difficulty of sintering and polishing the ceramic, and then there’s maintaining the purity of the look.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Kaua'i’s northwest coast is one of the world's most rapidly eroding shores.—
Brianna Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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As many others have noted, including Fortune contributor Bhaskar Chakravorti, dean of global business at the Tufts Fletcher School, this is now structurally unwinding, rather than slowly eroding.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Investigators have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting and said that a case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for filing consideration.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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His victory over Blue Cross/Blue Shield allowed 30 other women to be treated with the procedure without filing suit.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
Verb
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In addition to hydrating hair and combating dryness, this mask is fantastic for smoothing frizz and making hair more manageable.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
Glamour,
29 May 2026
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As its name suggests, Naturium’s Retinol Complex Serum contains line-smoothing retinol, plumping vitamin E, and firming bakuchiol.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Repairing the country’s fraying social ties will be a challenge.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
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And with the existing safety net of services fraying as never before, our work is more important than ever.—
Deidre Johnson,
Denver Post,
25 May 2026
Verb
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Inside the one that serves as Lestat’s luxe tour bus, someone is sanding down his wooden coffin.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
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By contrast, the years since then saw game designers formalizing language around the craft, focusing on sanding off rough edges, and holding the player’s hand to make sure no player had a bad experience because of an edge case.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbing. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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