Synonyms of wax

wax 1 of 2

verb (1)

1

as in to grease

to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction

waxing a surfboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grease
• oil
• lubricate
• slick
• wash
• wet
• soak
• water
• bathe
• drench
• douse
• dowse
• souse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough
• roughen
• dry
• coarsen
• sear
• dehydrate
• parch

2

as in to cream

slang to defeat by a large margin

I can't believe I bet on a football team that ended up getting waxed 45-0

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cream
• shellac
• whip
• skin
• trim
• bomb
• bury
• overcome
• dust
• paste
• smoke
• master
• throw
• flatten
• blow away
• snow under
• smother
• rout
• top
• beat
• upset
• annihilate
• thrash
• clobber
• trounce
• take
• skunk
• beat the pants off
• wallop
• overwhelm
• drub
• eat alive
• whup
• cap
• run circles around
• run rings around
• sweep
• surpass
• destroy
• whap
• exceed
• wipe the floor with
• lick
• score
• succeed
• whomp
• wipe the ground with
• whop
• conquer
• best
• dispatch
• crush
• better
• worst
• tromp
• finish
• prevail (over)
• win (against)
• triumph (over)
• subdue
• overbear
• slaughter
• surmount
• hurdle
• eclipse
• subjugate
• overtop
• vanquish
• overthrow
• knock over
• ace (out)
• transcend
• excel
• outdo
• overpower
• edge (out)
• flourish
• outshine
• outstrip
• knock off
• upend
• outdistance
• pip
• break
• overmatch
• sink
• nose out
• outfight
• do in

wax

2 of 2

verb (2)

1

as in to increase

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

the commitment of the young volunteers to the cause seems to wax and wane

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increase
• rise
• swell
• accelerate
• climb
• expand
• mushroom
• balloon
• roll up
• accumulate
• multiply
• intensify
• spread
• snowball
• mount
• boom
• proliferate
• bourgeon
• surge
• gain
• build up
• enlarge
• escalate
• appreciate
• jump
• rocket
• burgeon
• heighten
• bulk
• skyrocket
• peak
• puff (up)
• redouble
• distend
• inflate
• blow up
• crest
• crescendo

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decrease
• contract
• diminish
• recede
• lessen
• wane
• dwindle

2

as in to become

to eventually have as a state or quality

waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• become
• get
• grow
• go
• come
• turn
• run
• change
• modify
• transform
• alter
• metamorphose
• transmute
• mutate
• transfigure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• be
• remain
• continue
• stay
• linger
• abide

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wax

Verb

Butler goes off Sitting in a stuffy, crowded pregame press conference, Kerr waxed poetic about Butler’s ability to draw fouls. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025

For instance, men seem to lose more sleep during the waxing phase, while women experience slightly less deep and restful sleep around the full moon. —Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025

After the game and the emotional video tribute, Morgan Geekie waxed on about what Marchand meant to him. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 21 Oct. 2025

Not so at Brooklyn Horror, where Timms avoids taking credit and instead heaps praise on his organizers and volunteers… while waxing poetic on the redemptive quality of rats. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2025

Phrases Containing wax

• ball of wax