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.
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Recent Examples of rubs
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
Beyond its famous buffalo-style chicken wings, Buffalo Wild Wings offers over two dozen sauces and dry rubs — from lemon pepper and Thai curry to desert heat and chipotle barbecue, according to its website.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 26 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
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
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
Dramatic silence after someone makes a comment that rubs them the wrong way.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
Noun
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
Beyond its famous buffalo-style chicken wings, Buffalo Wild Wings offers over two dozen sauces and dry rubs — from lemon pepper and Thai curry to desert heat and chipotle barbecue, according to its website.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 26 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
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
Verb
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
Dramatic silence after someone makes a comment that rubs them the wrong way.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubs
Noun
-
Patients can also experience fever, headaches and body aches.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Donor requests for internships for their family members also led to overcrowding in the office and logistical headaches for schedulers, one former staffer said.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fredericksburg still wears its German heritage on its sleeve, evident throughout Main Street architecture and a lively cluster of biergartens and long-running seasonal festivals.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, Pegula tends to go about her business quietly, relying on a calm temperament and a methodical style that wears opponents down over time.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The dramatic move comes as shipping traffic grinds to an effective halt in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, amid fears of prolonged disruption to global trade.—
Dan Mangan,Garrett Downs,Leslie Josephs,Holly Ellyatt,Chloe Taylor,Sam Meredith,Azhar Sukri,Anniek Bao,Kevin Breuninger,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
-
But by the start of this season, our young capitalists have been flung further afield into new jobs and new places that stir up a vague sense of menace even before the actual danger of the plot grinds into action.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The process polishes the gentle bonhomie that promises to transform even the smallest silences into celebrations.—
Archie Forde,
Pitchfork,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In another, Kelly’s character polishes the massive rock on a seat cushion, then lies back to admire it.—
Rachel Garrahan,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to Fried, songbirds especially like this tree's fruit, which is reminiscent of blackberries but without the seeds or thorns.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Raspberry thorns are soft and fuzzy, and blackberry thorns are meaner and hook-shaped.—
Carl R. Gold,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When that confidence erodes, the legitimacy of the entire system is placed at risk.—
Keith Wortz,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Public trust erodes when resources concentrate at the top.—
Michael Sonnenfeldt,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 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
-
Plus, blurs pores, smooths texture, and keeps your makeup intact for 12 hours.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
9 Mar. 2026
-
As connection-building Venus activates your 3rd House of Communication, your inventive approach smooths discussions.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubs. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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