1
as in greasing
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
waxing a surfboard
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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
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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
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2
as in becoming
to eventually have as a state or quality
waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend
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Recent Examples of waxing
Seth Emerson, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The rest of the country, however, will be in fine shape with mid-autumn stars and constellations plus a waxing gibbous moon and a bright planet shining prominently in the early evening sky.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
In 1918, nine boys were detained in Kansas City for waxing streetcar tracks that caused a crash and injury, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
For instance, men seem to lose more sleep during the waxing phase, while women experience slightly less deep and restful sleep around the full moon.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Not so at Brooklyn Horror, where Timms avoids taking credit and instead heaps praise on his organizers and volunteers… while waxing poetic on the redemptive quality of rats.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2025
Among them are waxing and electrolysis.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Murray turned up at 2023 Nuggets Media Day waxing about his love of mixed martial arts.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Critics are waxing nostalgic for the edgy and outrageous comments of social critic humorists such as Dick Gregory, Mort Sahl, George Carlin, and Don Imus, forgetting that none of those figures were ever the host of a broadcast network TV show.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Ohio State and Indiana are waxing everybody.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The rest of the country, however, will be in fine shape with mid-autumn stars and constellations plus a waxing gibbous moon and a bright planet shining prominently in the early evening sky.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
In 1918, nine boys were detained in Kansas City for waxing streetcar tracks that caused a crash and injury, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
For instance, men seem to lose more sleep during the waxing phase, while women experience slightly less deep and restful sleep around the full moon.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Not so at Brooklyn Horror, where Timms avoids taking credit and instead heaps praise on his organizers and volunteers… while waxing poetic on the redemptive quality of rats.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2025
Among them are waxing and electrolysis.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Murray turned up at 2023 Nuggets Media Day waxing about his love of mixed martial arts.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Critics are waxing nostalgic for the edgy and outrageous comments of social critic humorists such as Dick Gregory, Mort Sahl, George Carlin, and Don Imus, forgetting that none of those figures were ever the host of a broadcast network TV show.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxing. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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