as in headaches
something that is a source of irritation
even what seems to be a dream job usually turns out to have its fair share of rubs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in wears
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 grinds
to make smooth by friction
the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in polishes
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 rubs
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
From a sophisticated suburban crowd to the Bobo’s of the right bank, every type of Parisian rubs shoulders with jet-setting guests in the convivial seventh-floor Art Deco brasserie meets cocktail bar, Le Tout-Paris.
—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
The dogs ran toward Gary and fell on their backs for belly rubs.
—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
Smoked salt has a smoky flavor and works well in rubs and marinades.
—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
Some consumers find the strap rubs or digs into the back of the heel.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Suitable gifts for this guy—a barbecue blanket for resting meats, or a selection of dry rubs geared to smoking.
—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Upgrade your rubs, soups, and pasta with just a sprinkle.
—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Sourced from Springer Mountain Farms, they are brined overnight, slowly roasted in duck fat with Zepeddie’s seasoning blend, then flash fried and tossed in a selection of housemade sauces and rubs.
—
Tristan Graziano,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
H.d. Angel,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
The plastic bristles coax out loose hair as your cat rubs against it.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.
—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Give him lots of treats and belly rubs!
—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
It can be added to marinades, soups, sauces, rubs, and is often on the table to be added to whatever dish is being served.
—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
11 Mar. 2026
What rubs us the wrong way is the suggestion that this proposal is purely about sustainability.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
This might happen because antler rubs strip bark away, revealing lignin-rich inner wood that reemits the longer wavelengths in a way bark does not.
—
Anirban Mukhopadhyay,
Scientific American,
21 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, Martin’s blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way, including schoolteacher Louisa Gavin (Abigail Spencer).
—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
While small amounts hidden in seasonings or spice rubs are less likely to cause serious illness, larger exposures, such as a dog eating raw onions or a whole head of garlic, can be dangerous.
—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
From a sophisticated suburban crowd to the Bobo’s of the right bank, every type of Parisian rubs shoulders with jet-setting guests in the convivial seventh-floor Art Deco brasserie meets cocktail bar, Le Tout-Paris.
—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
The dogs ran toward Gary and fell on their backs for belly rubs.
—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
Smoked salt has a smoky flavor and works well in rubs and marinades.
—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
Some consumers find the strap rubs or digs into the back of the heel.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Suitable gifts for this guy—a barbecue blanket for resting meats, or a selection of dry rubs geared to smoking.
—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Upgrade your rubs, soups, and pasta with just a sprinkle.
—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Sourced from Springer Mountain Farms, they are brined overnight, slowly roasted in duck fat with Zepeddie’s seasoning blend, then flash fried and tossed in a selection of housemade sauces and rubs.
—
Tristan Graziano,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery.
—
H.d. Angel,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
The plastic bristles coax out loose hair as your cat rubs against it.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.
—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Give him lots of treats and belly rubs!
—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
It can be added to marinades, soups, sauces, rubs, and is often on the table to be added to whatever dish is being served.
—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
11 Mar. 2026
What rubs us the wrong way is the suggestion that this proposal is purely about sustainability.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
This might happen because antler rubs strip bark away, revealing lignin-rich inner wood that reemits the longer wavelengths in a way bark does not.
—
Anirban Mukhopadhyay,
Scientific American,
21 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, Martin’s blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way, including schoolteacher Louisa Gavin (Abigail Spencer).
—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubs
Noun
-
But the departures are often bigger PR headaches than operational ones.
-
But the move enabled Florida to lock in what will be one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, slotting Brady Tkachuck into the left wing spot on the second line alongside center Sam Bennett and right wing Matthew Tkachuk that will cause opponents major headaches.
Verb
-
Farrell, who also narrates in a soft voice, often wears a look of shy incomprehension, as if a beat behind in translating the world around him, a stranger in a strange land.
-
Non-inverter ACs feature simpler parts that are cheaper and easier to fix, but the stop-start cycle wears the mechanical parts out faster, so these air conditioners are more prone to frequent repairs and tend to have a shorter lifespan.
Verb
-
The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency.
-
With a range of 50 to 300 kilometers, the drones, all made in Ukraine, are designed to throttle the Russian army’s logistics – adding a new dimension of strikes to Ukraine’s strategy as the war grinds through its fifth year.
Verb
-
Through processing that polishes the individual wool fibers, the technology allows wool to have more luster, a softer hand feel, drape and elastic recovery.
-
Expect to see even tinier dots and minuscule French tips atop jelly polishes in summery shades like fuchsia and blood orange.
Noun
-
However, some homeowners may be wary of planting roses because of their heavy thorns—especially in households with children or pets.
-
Often reaching up to six feet tall, these bushes, also known as brambles, have sharp thorns covering their branches.
Verb
-
Clarity builds trust; ambiguity erodes it.
-
People leave, culture erodes, the playbook changes faster than management can rewrite it, and so the edge slips to newcomers.
Verb
-
Sawdust sprays as Matt Sams meticulously sands the edges of a balcony railing that will soon be affixed to the front of a house.
-
Chapman sands his board occasionally to remove this top layer of funk.
Verb
-
Salicylic acid works deep within pores to tackle buildup, while lactic acid smooths rough texture and refines skin’s surface, leaving skin looking clearer and feeling smoother in just a few swipes.
-
By quenching dryness, the formula delivers instantly glowy skin and smooths the appearance of fine lines (which are more prominent when skin is dehydrated).
Cite this Entry
“Rubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubs. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
