1
as in greasing
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
waxing a surfboard
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of waxing
The Week Us, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 2026
To see the event, look to the west after sunset to spot Saturn just below the waxing crescent moon.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Want to capture beautiful photos of the waxing moon?
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Round cheekbones like a waxing moon, uptilted eyes like a fox's, a nose that sloped sharply downward.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Look west-southwest after sunset to find the 26%-lit waxing crescent moon above Saturn, which now clings low to the horizon.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Fortunately, a waxing crescent moon will set just after midnight on April 22, making the early morning hours ideal for viewing the Lyrids.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
All eyes on Autry In another Patriots era, Bill Belichick would have spent several minutes this week waxing poetic about Denico Autry.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Elordi keeps his personal life out of the spotlight, rarely discussing his relationships in interviews—but waxing poetic on the subject of love is another story.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
This mountain contemporary has a ski room with boot dryers and a waxing station; Park City Mountain Resort, which hosted events during the 2002 Winter Olympics, is about five minutes away.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 2026
To see the event, look to the west after sunset to spot Saturn just below the waxing crescent moon.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Want to capture beautiful photos of the waxing moon?
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Round cheekbones like a waxing moon, uptilted eyes like a fox's, a nose that sloped sharply downward.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Look west-southwest after sunset to find the 26%-lit waxing crescent moon above Saturn, which now clings low to the horizon.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Fortunately, a waxing crescent moon will set just after midnight on April 22, making the early morning hours ideal for viewing the Lyrids.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
All eyes on Autry In another Patriots era, Bill Belichick would have spent several minutes this week waxing poetic about Denico Autry.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Elordi keeps his personal life out of the spotlight, rarely discussing his relationships in interviews—but waxing poetic on the subject of love is another story.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxing. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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