1
as in greasing
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
waxing a surfboard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waxing
Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The hotel’s Beauty Bar offers nail and waxing services, plus massages.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Look to the eastern sky at midday on April 22 to find the 30%-lit waxing crescent moon close to the horizon, with its lower half hidden in shadow.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The early-setting, waxing crescent moon will provide a perfectly dark sky in the evening.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
First, corporate profits have been waxing much faster than GDP.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
Known as the Dragon Slayer, he’s often shown meditating, praying, waxing philosophical, and pontificating on nobility, integrity and honor.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
At the end of the month, when a waxing crescent moon is spotted in Saudi Arabia, nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide and less than 1% of Oklahomans who are Muslim, according to the Pew Research Center, will celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Oklahoman, 18 Mar. 2026
However, this year, the Orionids peak under a bright waxing gibbous moon, which will wash out many fainter meteors.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
What started as a 3-0 waxing by the Philadelphia Flyers has suddenly turned into a series as the Pittsburgh Penguins have won two straight to force a Game 6 back in Philadelphia.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The hotel’s Beauty Bar offers nail and waxing services, plus massages.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Look to the eastern sky at midday on April 22 to find the 30%-lit waxing crescent moon close to the horizon, with its lower half hidden in shadow.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The early-setting, waxing crescent moon will provide a perfectly dark sky in the evening.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
First, corporate profits have been waxing much faster than GDP.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
Known as the Dragon Slayer, he’s often shown meditating, praying, waxing philosophical, and pontificating on nobility, integrity and honor.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
At the end of the month, when a waxing crescent moon is spotted in Saudi Arabia, nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide and less than 1% of Oklahomans who are Muslim, according to the Pew Research Center, will celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Oklahoman, 18 Mar. 2026
However, this year, the Orionids peak under a bright waxing gibbous moon, which will wash out many fainter meteors.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waxing
Verb
-
Instead of greasing and flouring the pan, stir together equal parts flour, shortening, and vegetable oil, then brush this generously on the surface of the pan.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
It was delivered by the 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama, whose torso uncorked in a fit of frustration that sent his right elbow whipping toward Reid’s windpipe like a torpedo bat flying through the strike zone.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
That abundance of tall buildings also contributes to the city’s famous wind, which was really whipping all four days of our visit.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
7 May 2026
Verb
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James Ward During the debate, Republican candidate Steve Hilton said that only a small percentage of California has been developed for housing, arguing that the state should focus on building homes on undeveloped land rather than increasing density in existing cities.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Doing so compresses the light reflected from the plasma, thereby increasing its intensity.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Verb
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But his injury does raise more concerns about the manager’s choices in what is becoming a problem position.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
The study also found that tadpoles in the pre-metamorphic stage had higher microplastic contamination than those closer to becoming frogs, and that heavier tadpoles showed lower concentrations — suggesting ingestion rates may shift as the animals grow.—
Ryan Brennan
May 12,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 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
-
Mohapi adds that oiling a dry scalp works best before washing, not after.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mamdani’s Executive Budget rightly addresses some of this excess, trimming DOC’s uniformed headcount by 586 positions, and putting the city on track to save $78 million next year.—
Jason Rodriguez,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
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The conglomerate also fully exited Amazon after trimming the position late last year.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Trump’s approval ratings have fallen to below forty per cent, the Iran war grinds on, and gas prices have been rising, as has inflation.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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This rising use of AI has principally been spurred by the evolving advances and widespread adoption of generative AI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Most clubs are still focused on filling seats and growing loyal fan bases.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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Meanwhile, some developing regions are growing brighter, partly because of inefficient, sprawling development.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxing. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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