RUBBING Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

rubbing

verb

Definition of rubbing

present participle of rub

as in wearing

to damage or diminish by continued friction the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in grinding

to make smooth by friction the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in polishing

to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of rubbing Separating small equipment, personal accessories, and emergency supplies can also help reduce clutter and prevent belongings from rubbing against one another. — New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026 After two consecutive championships and more than a decade of rubbing the rest of Major League Baseball’s noses in their extravagant wealth, the Los Angeles Dodgers were not going to be missed. — Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026 Inside the courtroom, Brand appeared to be rubbing what looked like a rock or pebble in his hand. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Privately, the Kremlin leader must be rubbing his hands with glee. — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026 Some of these practices have been reported on before, such as rubbing deodorant against colored pages from magazines to make eye shadow. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026 The bigger claim making the rounds, that a few minutes of face rubbing can quiet your body’s stress response, is where dermatologists urge a little caution. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 In this case, there’s no swiping or rubbing at all—just let the pads sit and soak in for a few minutes before gently patting in the excess. — Jenny Jin, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026 How to Restore a Wooden Dish Rack If your dish rack is clean, but still looks worse for wear, try rubbing some oil onto the surface. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 24 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbing

Verb

Jackson had not been reported missing The man had been wearing a button-down short-sleeve shirt, light blue jeans, a silver wristwatch and blue-and-white tennis shoes.

— CBS News, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Temperatures are not conducive to actors wearing wool coats and scarves, and the snow on the ground is going to be added in post.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of wearing

Verb

After grinding to Akon during their belly dancing date, Cam and Aneha find common ground around growing up in low-income families when their parents lost their jobs.

— Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
While the left spent all week whining about Sophie Cunningham's hat and firing squad best practices, us PATRIOTS were biding our time, keeping our heads down, and grinding towards another weekend.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of grinding

Verb

There may have been a time when hosting a holiday dinner meant pulling out every platter, polishing the silver, and making sure there were enough wine glasses for a small army.

— Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026
The Duchess of Edinburgh even got hands-on experience shaping and polishing a quartz gemstone.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of polishing

Verb

Democrats lost the 2024 elections in part because of their eroding support among Latino voters, a constituency that was once a reliable segment of their base.

— Claudia Grisales, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
That issue has attracted international attention as AI threatens to redistribute national income toward profit and away from wages, potentially eroding labor income as a source of tax revenue.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of eroding

Verb

Getty Images, a massive image licensing company with hundreds of millions of assets in its library, is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

— Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
The Douglas District Attorney's Office is not filing any charges in connection with the death of a 12-year-old Mason Creek Middle School student after a fight after school earlier this year.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of filing

Verb

Wireless, shaping and smoothing bra styles and underwear packs are also available.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
The brand has also become a go-to for figure-flattering wardrobe staples that combine timeless designs and smoothing, comfortable fabrics that work with you rather than against you.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of smoothing

Browse Nearby Words

rubbery

rubbing

rubbing elbows

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Style

“Rubbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbing. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rubbing

verb

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