Synonyms of waxing

waxing 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of wax

1

as in greasing

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

waxing a surfboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• greasing
• oiling
• washing
• wetting
• lubricating
• slicking
• bathing
• soaking
• watering
• drenching
• dousing
• sousing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• roughing
• drying
• roughening
• searing
• dehydrating
• coarsening
• parching

2

as in whipping

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

• whipping
• trimming
• dusting
• burying
• overcoming
• bombing
• mastering
• flattening
• upsetting
• smoking
• thrashing
• routing
• beating
• pasting
• smothering
• throwing
• creaming
• annihilating
• skinning
• taking
• topping
• sweeping
• blowing away
• shellacking
• drubbing
• trouncing
• succeeding
• scoring
• conquering
• clobbering
• whopping
• tromping
• exceeding
• overwhelming
• whupping
• capping
• surpassing
• destroying
• licking
• dispatching
• skunking
• finishing
• walloping
• running circles around
• whomping
• eating alive
• beating the pants off
• snowing under
• crushing
• wiping the floor with
• slaughtering
• subduing
• subjugating
• vanquishing
• transcending
• surmounting
• prevailing (over)
• eclipsing
• winning (against)
• hurdling
• overthrowing
• outshining
• triumphing (over)
• knocking over
• overpowering
• besting
• bettering
• upending
• outstripping
• outdoing
• flourishing
• overbearing
• excelling
• outdistancing
• knocking off
• overmatching
• worsting
• edging (out)
• pipping
• overtopping
• breaking
• sinking
• outfighting
• doing in
• acing (out)
• nosing out

waxing

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of wax

1

as in increasing

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

• increasing
• rising
• swelling
• accelerating
• expanding
• climbing
• intensifying
• multiplying
• mounting
• spreading
• mushrooming
• accumulating
• proliferating
• snowballing
• escalating
• booming
• enlarging
• surging
• gaining
• burgeoning
• rolling up
• ballooning
• appreciating
• jumping
• building up
• heightening
• skyrocketing
• rocketing
• peaking
• bulking
• redoubling
• distending
• puffing (up)
• cresting
• inflating
• crescendoing
• blowing up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decreasing
• diminishing
• contracting
• waning
• lessening
• receding
• dwindling

2

as in becoming

to eventually have as a state or quality

waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• becoming
• growing
• getting
• going
• coming
• turning
• running
• changing
• transforming
• modifying
• altering
• transfiguring
• metamorphosing
• transmuting
• mutating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• being
• remaining
• continuing
• staying
• lingering
• abiding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of waxing

Verb

For something more leisurely, look west after sunset on July 17 to see the exact opposite sight — a 15%-illuminated waxing crescent moon close to Venus. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 July 2026

On July 16 and 17, the waxing crescent moon will be photobombing Venus. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 July 2026

But Presidents now will enjoy waxing authority over all those areas and more. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026

Also, about an hour after sunset, look west for the sight of the waxing crescent moon with three bright planets in view—Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 16 June 2026

In one particularly confessional episode, the Belgian star lavishes his wife with praise while waxing lyrical about his past mistakes. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026

Use personal protective equipment, such as an N95 mask or a respirator with organic cartridges, when waxing. — Kathryn Crawford, The Conversation, 3 June 2026