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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

Noun

While Bo could often be won over with a treat, the Obamas said Sunny preferred attention and playtime, including running around with the family, rolling on the floor and getting belly rubs. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 Signpost buck sign, including rubs and scrapes, is used and revisited throughout the year. — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026 The beloved mascot of Pocasset Hardware, Franklin wins everyone over with his ultra-friendly personality, generous kisses and endless requests for belly rubs. — Staff Author Updated, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026 Anything below 20,000 double rubs may wear down faster and is better suited to a bouclé loveseat, accent chair or other low-traffic piece of bouclé furniture. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 Look for at least 30,000 double rubs for a sofa that will see everyday use. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026 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

Verb

Achord stands behind Smack each time and, before one kick, rubs his belly with his other hand over his head as some sort of signal. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 But during the following two years, Van Lith saw only gigantic tracks and adrenaline-inspiring antler rubs that had been left behind by the buck of his dreams. — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026 Hundreds of bottles of hot sauce and meat rubs line the exterior walls. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Edward rubs his lamb with turmeric, Aleppo chile powder, salt and pepper. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubs

Noun

Hotels increasingly use signature scents to shape their brands, but guests with asthma or chemical sensitivities say those fragrances can trigger headaches and other problems.

— Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
After six days, 57% of study participants who had VYD2311 injected into the muscle of their upper arm reported headaches, chills, fatigue or pain at the injection site — the typical side effects associated with vaccinations.

— Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of headaches

Verb

To power paraglide, Hutzler wears an engine propeller backpack called a paramotor, which can typically cost between $8,000 and $9,000.

— Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2026
In a particularly Ethan Hunt-ish twist, the actor wears a rubbery disguise—a potbellied suit, a scraggly gray comb-over, and a smattering of old-guy makeup.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of wears

Verb

The annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the country’s most important academic event, grinds the nation to almost a halt to ensure the smooth administration of the exam.

— Lim Hui Jie,Miko Jang, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Finance ministers and central bank officials of G20 countries convene in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday and Tuesday as the US-Iran war grinds into its sixth month, raising inflation expectations and keeping energy prices elevated.

— Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of grinds

Verb

While a classic button-down shirt is always timeless, a peplum top offers the same wearability with a waist-defining silhouette that instantly polishes any bottom they’re paired with.

— Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
The PowerPaste polishes and protects more delicate surfaces, while the Tangerine Clean is more abrasive for serious scrubbing.

— Brittany VanDerBill, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026

Definition of polishes

Noun

Besides a necklace of thorns, which draws small drops of blood, Kahlo appears to be more focused on the relief of healing.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Roses are considered non-toxic, though thorns can cause injuries and floral preservatives may still pose a risk.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of thorns

Verb

This multiversal collapse not only erodes the walls dividing fictions but also reconfigures the interface between fiction and reality.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
This severe segmentation can be emotionally draining and erodes commitment to the organization.

— Catherine Bell, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 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

Researchers solved this issue by creating a dual processing technique that smooths the material surface and manages how the crystals form.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Yearly stats just smoothes everything out to a more meaningless middle.

— Michael Salfino, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of smooths

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubs. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rubs

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

regimen

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes