1
as in greasing
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
waxing a surfboard
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in becoming
to eventually have as a state or quality
waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of waxing
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 June 2026
On this coming Tuesday and Wednesday evening, the new waxing crescent moon will pass by the planets.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 14 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
Specifically, the study found that concentrations of PFAS in dust in wax rooms dropped significantly after the fluoro bans were implemented and waxing areas were cleaned.
—Kathryn Crawford, The Conversation, 3 June 2026
Wednesday, June 17After sunset in the west, a 5%-lit waxing crescent moon will be positioned between Jupiter and Mercury, with Venus shining above.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
The $18 billion in IPO proceeds plus the $1 billion in free cash flow from the other two businesses combined wouldn’t even cover the $20 billion the AI side spent on plant, property and equipment last year, and that figure is waxing fast.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 May 2026
The moon was waxing gibbous and would be full in four days.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar in which months last either 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the waxing crescent moon.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
Verb
The razor-thin crescent of the waxing moon will also be present to the lower right of Mercury, all but impossible to spot in the glow of the setting sun.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 June 2026
On this coming Tuesday and Wednesday evening, the new waxing crescent moon will pass by the planets.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 14 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
Specifically, the study found that concentrations of PFAS in dust in wax rooms dropped significantly after the fluoro bans were implemented and waxing areas were cleaned.
—Kathryn Crawford, The Conversation, 3 June 2026
Wednesday, June 17After sunset in the west, a 5%-lit waxing crescent moon will be positioned between Jupiter and Mercury, with Venus shining above.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
The $18 billion in IPO proceeds plus the $1 billion in free cash flow from the other two businesses combined wouldn’t even cover the $20 billion the AI side spent on plant, property and equipment last year, and that figure is waxing fast.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 May 2026
The moon was waxing gibbous and would be full in four days.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar in which months last either 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the waxing crescent moon.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waxing
Verb
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Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prep your pan by greasing the bottom and sides of a 13x9 with cooking spray or butter.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2026
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Todd starred in these films for over 20 years, greasing lines all over Wyoming’s Tetons, California’s Sierras, and Alaska’s Chugach mountains that other skiers and snowboarders didn’t even think were ridable.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Vargas is accused of repeatedly whipping the cab’s hood with a belt, denting it, cops said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
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But listening to Magazine—their new 10-track, 11-minute album—that artful density becomes singular, swaying as much as whipping between its frantic ideas.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
12 June 2026
Verb
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In the study, which analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health collected between 2021 and 2024, researchers say that despite numerous state-level bans on kratom across the nation, its use is at an all-time high and is increasing.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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These whales face increasing threats from climate change and human activity.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
19 June 2026
Verb
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There isn’t a mini bar in most rooms (the suite does have one), so plan on becoming close friends with the servers during your stay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
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The teenager is a team assistant and volunteer with big dreams of one day becoming a soccer star.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Prevent rust by cleaning cast iron right after cooking, drying it thoroughly, and oiling it every time.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
17 Jan. 2026
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Mohapi adds that oiling a dry scalp works best before washing, not after.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Crews are focusing on the 15 feet along the roadsides, trimming trees that are still alive to help prevent fire from laddering into the crowns and removing dead trees.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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While some varieties will rebloom without deadheading, trimming fading flowers keeps the flower bed from looking tired.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Not surprisingly, the number keeps rising.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
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Enter Maddie’s Secret, Early’s directorial debut, which follows a chef at GourMaybe Test Kitchen whose rising place in the food-influencer world clashes with her lifelong struggle with bulimia.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Many travelers dream of one day living abroad, but a growing number of US citizens are making that fantasy a reality.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
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The findings, the latest in a growing body of research about the vaccine’s benefits for heart health, suggest such benefits observed in earlier studies have persisted for years.—
Daniel Wu,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxing. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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