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
• overcome
• bury
• bomb
• dust
• shellac
• paste
• smoke
• throw
• master
• flatten
• blow away
• upset
• smother
• rout
• beat
• top
• annihilate
• thrash
• snow under
• take
• skunk
• overwhelm
• beat the pants off
• drub
• clobber
• eat alive
• run circles around
• cap
• trounce
• sweep
• destroy
• lick
• score
• surpass
• wipe the floor with
• exceed
• wallop
• best
• whomp
• succeed
• worst
• whop
• whup
• conquer
• better
• dispatch
• crush
• tromp
• finish
• prevail (over)
• win (against)
• triumph (over)
• subdue
• slaughter
• 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

Nervous excitement waxed in time with the waning of the solar crescent, which grew thinner with each minute as the moon's silhouette sank ever deeper into the sun. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026

The employees had been cleaning and waxing floors with rags soaked in cleaning or waxing solvents, disposing of the towels in a plastic trash can. — Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Admittedly, this scribe has waxed lovingly about way too many Broncos backs over the years. — Brad Evans, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Keep in mind that tonight’s waxing gibbous moon will be 60 percent illuminated, which could make spotting fainter auroras tricky. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing wax

• ball of wax