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
• 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
• whip
• skin
• trim
• bomb
• bury
• overcome
• dust
• shellac
• paste
• smoke
• throw
• master
• flatten
• upset
• blow away
• smother
• rout
• top
• beat
• annihilate
• thrash
• take
• snow under
• overwhelm
• skunk
• beat the pants off
• drub
• clobber
• eat alive
• cap
• run circles around
• sweep
• destroy
• trounce
• surpass
• score
• lick
• exceed
• wipe the floor with
• succeed
• best
• wallop
• worst
• whomp
• conquer
• whop
• whup
• dispatch
• better
• crush
• finish
• tromp
• prevail (over)
• win (against)
• triumph (over)
• slaughter
• subdue
• surmount
• eclipse
• subjugate
• hurdle
• overtop
• overthrow
• vanquish
• knock over
• ace (out)
• transcend
• excel
• outdo
• overpower
• edge (out)
• flourish
• overbear
• outshine
• outstrip
• knock off
• outdistance
• pip
• break
• overmatch
• sink
• nose out
• upend
• 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
• expand
• climb
• roll up
• accumulate
• multiply
• intensify
• spread
• mushroom
• mount
• balloon
• proliferate
• boom
• snowball
• gain
• build up
• enlarge
• surge
• appreciate
• escalate
• jump
• rocket
• burgeon
• bulk
• heighten
• peak
• puff (up)
• redouble
• inflate
• skyrocket
• blow up
• distend
• 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

Selling this fare gives me the opportunity to make a little money and wax enthusiastically about native plants. —Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026

Yet the genre waxed and waned in popularity amid its many transformations; in The Atlantic alone, writers have repeatedly declared the rise, death, and revival of the Western. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026

From 2020 to 2023, participation waxed and waned, and the group reexamined their association, experimenting with new models of collectivity, and correcting their unintentional gender bias. —Catherine Taft, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026

The car should come back washed and waxed for that price. —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026

Phrases Containing wax

• ball of wax