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
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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
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Recent Examples of rubs
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Dec. 2025
In the footage, the performance character for the baseball team gives the pup head rubs, pets, and lots of extra comfort after his hard day.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
Grating anything is usually a knuckle-threatening chore—but this stippled ceramic dish from Japan makes it into its own soothing ritual, turning a brown stem into liquidish gold with a few easy rubs.
—The Atlantic, 19 Nov. 2025
Maple salt adds a sweet-savory punch to rubs and stews, and maple sugar is used to give cocktails a smooth and tantalizing finish.
—Pamela MacNaughtan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Nov. 2025
The chicken restaurant’s third mascot, Raising Cane III, loves visiting Raising Cane’s restaurants and getting belly rubs from crew members, the company said online.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
It’s filled with global flavors and spice mixes for a variety of different meals, including barbecue rubs, Mediterranean blends, Italian blends, steak rubs, and more.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
So rubs offer both visual and scent clues for deer.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
These include wanting to be near you, keeping eye contact, following you everywhere, and showing affection through cuddles or face rubs.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
For a deeper dive into DeRose-Broeckert’s findings about how deer perceive scrapes and rubs, head over to NDA.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
Specifically, Byron’s enthusiasm for Guinness — the beer and the family — rubs him the wrong way.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Ray, grateful for the distraction, rubs my Lab behind his ears and tells me how much Michelle loved dogs.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
As the moon clashes with Mars, a partner’s behavior rubs you the wrong way.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Lenker, in plaid, rubs her eyes; James Krivchenia leans forward, sparky and alert; Meek, outdoors in the Topanga sunshine, wears cycling glasses and a frowzy hat.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Sep. 2025
And because fall is all about staying cozy-slash-comfy while being on your feet all day, the Bae delivers support via its ultra-contoured outsole, accommodating toe box, and collar that, though made of the rubber-adjacent Croslite proprietary material, never rubs at your feet or causes blisters.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
These lumps typically develop in areas of the body where the skin rubs together, and can be recurrent.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
The fieldwork covered 146 signposts in all, providing a broad look at 109 rubs and 37 scrapes across the forest.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Dec. 2025
In the footage, the performance character for the baseball team gives the pup head rubs, pets, and lots of extra comfort after his hard day.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
Grating anything is usually a knuckle-threatening chore—but this stippled ceramic dish from Japan makes it into its own soothing ritual, turning a brown stem into liquidish gold with a few easy rubs.
—The Atlantic, 19 Nov. 2025
Maple salt adds a sweet-savory punch to rubs and stews, and maple sugar is used to give cocktails a smooth and tantalizing finish.
—Pamela MacNaughtan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Nov. 2025
The chicken restaurant’s third mascot, Raising Cane III, loves visiting Raising Cane’s restaurants and getting belly rubs from crew members, the company said online.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
It’s filled with global flavors and spice mixes for a variety of different meals, including barbecue rubs, Mediterranean blends, Italian blends, steak rubs, and more.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
So rubs offer both visual and scent clues for deer.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
These include wanting to be near you, keeping eye contact, following you everywhere, and showing affection through cuddles or face rubs.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
The video shows the pup lounging around in various positions in a home setting, from asleep on the floor and over a blanket to playing with a dog toy and lying on the floor with her legs in the air as a hand rubs her belly.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
For a deeper dive into DeRose-Broeckert’s findings about how deer perceive scrapes and rubs, head over to NDA.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
Specifically, Byron’s enthusiasm for Guinness — the beer and the family — rubs him the wrong way.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Ray, grateful for the distraction, rubs my Lab behind his ears and tells me how much Michelle loved dogs.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
As the moon clashes with Mars, a partner’s behavior rubs you the wrong way.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Lenker, in plaid, rubs her eyes; James Krivchenia leans forward, sparky and alert; Meek, outdoors in the Topanga sunshine, wears cycling glasses and a frowzy hat.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Sep. 2025
And because fall is all about staying cozy-slash-comfy while being on your feet all day, the Bae delivers support via its ultra-contoured outsole, accommodating toe box, and collar that, though made of the rubber-adjacent Croslite proprietary material, never rubs at your feet or causes blisters.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
These lumps typically develop in areas of the body where the skin rubs together, and can be recurrent.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubs
Noun
-
Aldo Olivieri, il Gatto Magico (the Magic Cat), who had survived a fractured skull that required drilling to save his life and left him with chronic headaches, became the first-choice goalkeeper.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But the holiday headaches might get much worse as the government shutdown causes flight reductions at major airports.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Cyclops dons a more comic-accurate blue-and-yellow uniform, while Xavier wears a black-and-red X symbol on his gray jacket.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Plus, its crew neckline is the ideal base for statement necklaces, just like the chunky string of pearls that Seyfried wears throughout the movie.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At bottom, that’s the thing that grinds my gears.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The Luxe Café automatically grinds beans to the appropriate size and volume for your drink, and has a hands-free frothing system for creating hot and cold foam.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The single-button power control is a favorite feature of our reviewer Williams, as well as the fluffy optic cleaner head that cleans and polishes her hard floors.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Next, the gel polishes themselves had to work with the specific wavelengths of the Olive & June lamp.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Use clean pruners to trim away shoots, thorns, or roots along the soil and to help maintain the tree’s size.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Dec. 2025
-
Even delicate feline nostrils and curved claws that could scratch like thorns won her undying admiration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
For any administration to treat them that way erodes our national security and flies in the face of Congress’ constitutional obligation to oversee matters of war and peace.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
29 Oct. 2025
-
When the only people receiving relief are celebrities, political insiders or headline-makers, public confidence erodes.—
Khalil Cumberbatch,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These pants are available in a petite-friendly 29-inch inseam and feature a wide contour waistband that smooths you out.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The Libra moon meeting Venus smooths everything over.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This particular aspect of the show frays the gripping tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Conjuring the troubled inner life of a young, beautiful and successful Buenos Aires fashion designer with an uncommon mix of stylistic rigor and feeling, the film frays your nerves.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubs. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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