SANDING Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

sanding

verb

present participle of sand

as in rubbing

to make smooth by friction painstakingly sanded down the wooden floors of the old house

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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 sanding Brush everything with an egg wash and top cutouts with sanding sugar. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2026 The roughly 7,300-square-foot residence has been adapted for contemporary living without completely sanding away what came before. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026 Bass delves into the ease (or difficulty) of loving people in terms anyone could grasp, sanding down the uniqueness of Cyrus’s viewpoint. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026 The work included sanding playground equipment, cleaning up wood chips and organizing toys. — Kennedy Cook, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2026 Degloss the countertop surface by lightly sanding to scuff the shiny finish, and then wipe the dust away. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026 For more than five decades, the brand has grown without sanding down the personality that made its original spaces memorable. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026 Before planting any hibiscus seeds, start by nicking or sanding the seeds using fine-grade sandpaper or the tip of a knife. — Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026 Roughly a month before Kirk’s killing, Twiggs said Robinson asked for a Dremel, a tool used for sanding or grinding, to engrave bullets for an upcoming family hunting trip. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanding

Verb

Separating small equipment, personal accessories, and emergency supplies can also help reduce clutter and prevent belongings from rubbing against one another.

— New Atlas, 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

Definition of rubbing

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

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

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

If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste’s active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing.

— Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2026
Classes and skills lean into different styles of play; Astromech droids are entirely support-focused, generating AP (action points) and buffing the party, while the Assault is focused on heavy damage and drawing aggro.

— Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of buffing

Verb

The Moon moves through practical Virgo, sharpening our eye for details, routines, and the small choices that make life easier.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Israel’s first election since the attack is sharpening anger over security failures and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while public discussion largely overlooks Palestinian civilians’ lives.

— Cara Anna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of sharpening

Browse Nearby Words

sandglasses

sanding

sandpaper

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

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Synonyms of sanding

verb

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