Synonyms of waxes

waxes 1 of 2

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of wax

1

as in greases

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

waxing a surfboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• greases
• oils
• lubricates
• washes
• wets
• soaks
• slicks
• waters
• bathes
• drenches
• douses
• souses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• roughens
• coarsens
• dries
• roughs
• sears
• dehydrates
• parches

2

as in whips

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

• whips
• dusts
• creams
• trims
• bombs
• overcomes
• pastes
• buries
• smokes
• masters
• shellacs
• tops
• beats
• upsets
• throws
• flattens
• smothers
• annihilates
• thrashes
• routs
• skins
• clobbers
• takes
• blows away
• overwhelms
• surpasses
• wallops
• trounces
• scores
• destroys
• drubs
• exceeds
• sweeps
• caps
• whomps
• finishes
• conquers
• succeeds
• eats alive
• beats the pants off
• tromps
• dispatches
• whups
• snows under
• licks
• runs circles around
• whops
• skunks
• wipes the floor with
• crushes
• subdues
• vanquishes
• eclipses
• transcends
• excels
• outshines
• bests
• hurdles
• overbears
• subjugates
• surmounts
• outstrips
• wins (against)
• overpowers
• outdoes
• flourishes
• overthrows
• prevails (over)
• overtops
• triumphs (over)
• slaughters
• outdistances
• knocks over
• overmatches
• edges (out)
• knocks off
• upends
• betters
• sinks
• noses out
• worsts
• outfights
• breaks
• aces (out)
• pips
• does in

waxes

2 of 2

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of wax

1

as in increases

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

• increases
• rises
• swells
• accelerates
• climbs
• expands
• mushrooms
• intensifies
• accumulates
• mounts
• spreads
• proliferates
• multiplies
• booms
• surges
• escalates
• snowballs
• rolls up
• burgeons
• appreciates
• jumps
• gains
• enlarges
• balloons
• builds up
• heightens
• rockets
• peaks
• bulks
• distends
• redoubles
• inflates
• crests
• puffs (up)
• skyrockets
• crescendoes
• blows up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decreases
• wanes
• diminishes
• contracts
• recedes
• lessens
• dwindles

2

as in becomes

to eventually have as a state or quality

waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• becomes
• grows
• gets
• goes
• comes
• turns
• runs
• transforms
• modifies
• alters
• changes
• transmutes
• metamorphoses
• mutates
• transfigures

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• is
• remains
• continues
• stays
• lingers
• abides

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of waxes

Verb

Haidt, who is the same age as the writer Bret Easton Ellis, waxes nostalgic for many of the freedoms enjoyed in Ellis’s 2023 novel, The Shards. — Rob Haskell, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026

The account, SamServed, has posts that date back to November of last year, in which Smith waxes poetic about a Copenhagen restaurant called Kebabistan. — Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026

In his op-ed reflecting on the texts, the secretary takes to task the Westminster establishment that allowed Mandelson’s selection, but also waxes philosophical about sexism, diversity, and inclusion. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026

At the start of the interview, Hartley recounted his famous scene with Hahn, 52, from 2017's A Bad Moms Christmas, in which Hahn's character, Carla, waxes his character's crotch. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025