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
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
It can also be used for rubs, vinaigrettes, meats, and vegetables.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2026
The Buffalo Wings come bone-in or boneless with a dizzying range of flavors and heat levels, from honey BBQ to mango habanero to keto-friendly dry rubs.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
So, to get noticed, deer mark areas with rubs and scrapes, known as signposts.
—New Atlas, 10 Feb. 2026
Barrel and Bones The smokehouse is offering two Game Day Wing Playoff Packs — one that includes 20 wings for $35 and another that includes 50 wings for $85 — with a variety of flavors, sauces and rubs.
—Zacharia Washington, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
After sitting for a few minutes, the original color rubs or peels away to reveal a natural-looking rosy stain.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
In their study describing the findings, published in Ecology and Evolution, the authors argue that these later marks are brighter because male deer antlers have fully hardened and their rubs can expose more inner wood.
—Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 21 Jan. 2026
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
There’s also Darem (George Hawkins), an arrogant rich-kid who immediately rubs Caleb the wrong way, and Genesis (Bella Shepard), a high-achieving nepo baby/admiral’s daughter who’s composed but competitive.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2026
The team believes that rubs’ glow may be made from a combination of plant and tree sap and secretions from the animal’s forehead glands.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Every time the user blinks, their eyelid rubs against the PDMS contact lens.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
It can also be used for rubs, vinaigrettes, meats, and vegetables.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2026
The Buffalo Wings come bone-in or boneless with a dizzying range of flavors and heat levels, from honey BBQ to mango habanero to keto-friendly dry rubs.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
So, to get noticed, deer mark areas with rubs and scrapes, known as signposts.
—New Atlas, 10 Feb. 2026
Barrel and Bones The smokehouse is offering two Game Day Wing Playoff Packs — one that includes 20 wings for $35 and another that includes 50 wings for $85 — with a variety of flavors, sauces and rubs.
—Zacharia Washington, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
After sitting for a few minutes, the original color rubs or peels away to reveal a natural-looking rosy stain.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
In their study describing the findings, published in Ecology and Evolution, the authors argue that these later marks are brighter because male deer antlers have fully hardened and their rubs can expose more inner wood.
—Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
There’s also Darem (George Hawkins), an arrogant rich-kid who immediately rubs Caleb the wrong way, and Genesis (Bella Shepard), a high-achieving nepo baby/admiral’s daughter who’s composed but competitive.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2026
The team believes that rubs’ glow may be made from a combination of plant and tree sap and secretions from the animal’s forehead glands.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Every time the user blinks, their eyelid rubs against the PDMS contact lens.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubs
Noun
-
The real story behind one of Texas’ biggest wildlife headaches starts with a decision the state made on purpose.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Some journalists draw a line between the government's mounting headaches and its escalating attacks on the messengers of that news.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Isabella is thin and tall, and wears high heels and low-cut dresses.—
T. M. Brown,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Prince Harry wears a serious expression with an earpiece at the Kyiv Security Forum in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 23.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Company executives often meet with clients at Wilson's Sandwich Shop, a Depression-era favorite that still cuts and grinds its hamburger in-house from local cattle.—
Dean Narciso,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
-
While passengers, for the most part, do their best to extend common courtesy to airline staff, there’s one boarding habit that, unbeknownst to passengers, grinds the gears of flight attendants who are preparing for departure.—
Joey Skladany,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
From there, Sharrow thins down its propeller to precise specification with a five-axis CNC machine and polishes it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Their bestselling Regenerating Cleanser gently polishes away impurities and dullness to reveal a healthy-looking, radiant glow, clinically proven to make skin look brighter, smoother, more hydrated and pores look smaller.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Also known as seaberry, Fried says this plant is notable for its resistance to deer because of its sharp thorns and tree-like height.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
14 Apr. 2026
-
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,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Others warned holding funding flat without hearing the district’s needs erodes trust and leaves key decisions about staffing, resources and student support happening without transparency.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Inflation erodes the coin’s buying power every year.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
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.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Chapman sands his board occasionally to remove this top layer of funk.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Pro hairstylist Ryan Richman previously described this Briogeo cream as a lightweight, silicone-free heat-protectant cream that minimizes frizz, smooths hair, enhances shine, and protects against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The award can be used in any way that smooths a writer’s life or makes good work possible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubs. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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