RUBS Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

rubs 1 of 2

noun

plural of rub

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rubs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rub

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

as in grinds

to make smooth by friction the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in polishes

to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed

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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

Noun

The posh pup has a home in the lobby and outside the front entrance, and sits (and stays) at the ready for belly rubs. — Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 2 July 2026 Winning has afforded him opportunities to sell and market a line of spice rubs, sauces, glazes, seasonings, baths, brines, and injectables. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026 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

Verb

The nurse rubs circles on her lower back, clucking at the struggle of turning the pregnant body to the side like a lopsided gourd. — Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 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 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

Oshea Orchid, a local lawyer, filed the first class-action lawsuit in 2023 against the operators of the county’s second-largest landfill, alleging the fumes were sickening her neighbors, causing headaches and heart palpitations.

— Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Body mists are usually an easy win for anyone prone to headaches.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 11 July 2026

Definition of headaches

Verb

Rodríguez Castro wears a stainless-steel version on his left wrist.

— Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Team Visma-Lease A Bike’s Jonas Vingegaard currently wears the yellow jersey after two stages, while Mexico’s Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates won his first Tour de France stage on Sunday afternoon.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of wears

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.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 June 2026
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.

— Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 20 June 2026

Definition of grinds

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.

— Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 22 June 2026
Expect to see even tinier dots and minuscule French tips atop jelly polishes in summery shades like fuchsia and blood orange.

— Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 4 June 2026

Definition of polishes

Noun

An individual bush can grow up to 15 feet high and 40 feet long, with thick stems, also known as canes, marked by sharp, hooked thorns.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2026
The match was set, and now Rhodes will defend the title against the two thorns in his side since before Clash in Italy.

— Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026

Definition of thorns

Verb

Financial privacy erodes gradually through risk assessments, compliance obligations, information sharing partnerships and international standards presented as technical rather than political.

— Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
This undermines financial stability, erodes reserves intended for true emergencies, and increases the likelihood of necessary cuts or emergency measures in the future.

— Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2026

Definition of erodes

Verb

Thorn cuts the pieces for his puzzle-style artworks, sands them, paints them, then glues them into a frame.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Sawdust sprays as Matt Sams meticulously sands the edges of a balcony railing that will soon be affixed to the front of a house.

— Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026

Definition of sands

Verb

The hybrid system smooths some of the drivetrain’s low-speed behavior, but the single-clutch transmission still delivers a hearty shunt on full-throttle upshifts as the V8 screams toward 11,000 rpm.

— Bradley Iger, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
The formula smooths wrinkles, reduces laugh lines, softens dry patches, and perks up the eye area to deliver plumper, firmer skin.

— Grace Scollo, InStyle, 4 July 2026