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

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

On Wednesday, Blue Jays teammates waxed poetic about Scherzer, who is slated to make his 26th career postseason start in front of a raucous T-Mobile Park crowd. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

On Wednesday, at the Tom Ford catwalk, it was scraped back and waxed into a devil-may-care quiff style and worn with a pair of wayfarer-esque sunglasses also by the house. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

Phrases Containing wax

• ball of wax