rubbing

verb

Definition of rubbingnext
present participle of rub
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

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 rubbing With eight goals and two assists so far this tournament, the GOAT will be rubbing his hands. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 15 July 2026 For washable fabrics, avoid rubbing aggressively as this action can push the stain deeper into the material fibers. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 13 July 2026 But the comfort extends beyond the insole, as the soft fabric straps help prevent rubbing while also lending the sandals a more elevated look. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026 Continue rubbing until the friction lifts the residue from the fabric. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 July 2026 Clear sunscreen sticks glide across the skin without leaving the chalky white cast that mineral formulas can create, and their solid texture means less dripping or rubbing than a lotion. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 2, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 At the time, Curtis was spotted rubbing the actress' shoulders, and Aniston was later seen with her hand in his hand. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026 The bumper was rubbing the tire and a headlight looked to be dragging. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 28 June 2026 Working with the fingertip has a sensuosity which is erotic and raw; there is something very direct about this process of drawing, rubbing, scratching and erasing. — Zehra Jumabhoy, Artforum, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbing
  1. wearing
  2. grinding
  3. polishing
  4. eroding
  5. filing
  6. smoothing
  7. fraying
  8. sanding
Verb
  • In a clearing in the forest, his younger selves sit at a long table with the abbott, who is wearing the final boss of season three’s awful wigs.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Javier Bardem, wearing a Spain replica shirt with Borja Iglesias’ name and No 26 on the back, was shown celebrating in the stands.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of wearing
Verb
  • With more and more families settling in cities in the second half of the 19th century, camps gave kids a refuge from the oppressive heat, rancid smells and grinding noise of summer in the city.
    — Seth T. Kannarr, Fortune, 13 July 2026
  • If Ryan McMahon really did revive their season with that grinding 12-pitch at bat against Yankee-killing Rays ace Drew Rasmussen last Thursday, what can Brian Cashman do to sufficiently fix the roster for a deep postseason run?
    — Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 11 July 2026
Definition of grinding
Verb
  • The investment of time and money put into excavating and polishing a skeleton such as Gus would not be possible, according to Hatton, without the prospect of a high-value sale.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
  • Rather than using a standard stonewash, TacticalGeek says the blade is hand-finished with sanding and polishing steps that refine the surface from coarse to fine, while the groove area uses EDM machining for extra texture and visual depth.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2026
Definition of polishing
Verb
  • Vance has seen his support eroding, both in and outside of Jewish circles.
    — Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026
  • The analysis likely assumed customer traffic would transfer from drive-in to drive-thru without eroding customers’ affinity for the drive-in experience.
    — Clifford Hudson, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of eroding
Verb
  • That could include filing a civil claim with the Justice Department under the Whistleblower Protection Act or using other federal statutes to pursue compensation in a lawsuit against the government.
    — Jay Weaver July 21, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
  • At least a handful of IATSE Locals are helping their members push back, filing objections on their behalf with Contract Services.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
Definition of filing
Verb
  • This smoothing body treatment includes retinol to fight fine lines and wrinkles, shea butter for moisture, and vitamin C and E to protect against environmental factors that lead to signs of aging.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 18 July 2026
  • The new schedule aligns with the National Women’s Soccer League, smoothing the process for player loans.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026
Definition of smoothing
Verb
  • Even after five years of daily use, the double zippers never snag, the adjustable strap isn’t fraying, and the black color has hardly faded.
    — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026
  • For women who are functioning, performing and quietly fraying at the edges, this kind of shift can be profound.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 13 July 2026
Definition of fraying
Verb
  • Roughly a month before Kirk’s killing, Twiggs said Robinson asked for a Dremel, a tool used for sanding or grinding, to engrave bullets for an upcoming family hunting trip.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Rather than using a standard stonewash, TacticalGeek says the blade is hand-finished with sanding and polishing steps that refine the surface from coarse to fine, while the groove area uses EDM machining for extra texture and visual depth.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2026
Definition of sanding

Browse Nearby Words

rubbery
rubbing
rubbing elbows
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rubbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbing. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on rubbing

Nglish: Translation of rubbing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rubbing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stalwart

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All