wax 1 of 2

verb (1)

Definition of waxnext
1
as in to grease
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 to cream
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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wax

2 of 2

verb (2)

1
as in to increase
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 to become
to eventually have as a state or quality waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend

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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 wax
Verb
Never use bags that are glossy, shiny, waxed, or printed with bright, colorful inks. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026 Back to basics on The Daily Show Not to wax nostalgic, but back in my day, The Daily Show was mostly a cavalcade of weirdos consenting to be filmed while comedians played right in their face. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026 Occasionally, historians of the British film industry can wax understandably nostalgic for this period, when public funding, via the BBC, could be channelled toward such edgy and experimental projects and their creators. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026 Instead of high fashion and high heels, waxed Barbour jackets, jeans, Birkenstocks and Blundstones are the unofficial uniform. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wax
  1. grease
  2. cream
  3. increase
  4. become
  5. oil
  6. whip
  7. rise
  8. get
Verb
  • Lightly grease a 2-quart ceramic or glass baking dish with baking spray.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • These hostesses greased the gears of power in the capital, and an invitation to their dinners was a chance to rub shoulders with Cabinet members and ambassadors and, occasionally, a bona fide celebrity.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of grease
Verb
  • Pair it with taupe, mushroom, or cream for contrast that never feels harsh.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The two dishes that have remained on its menu are its the lumache alla norcina (Barham’s sausage with mushrooms, white wine and cream $23) and the spicy vodka radiatori (creamy stracciatella and Parmesan for $21).
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of cream
Verb
  • To increase supply, the International Energy Agency agreed on Thursday to release more than 20 million barrels of fuel to the market.
    — Arathy Somasekhar Reuters, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Preparing multiple missions Manufacturing more rocket hardware will not increase launch frequency unless teams can prepare several missions simultaneously.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Wang failed her first attempt to defend her dissertation and became envious of her colleague's success in discovering how to deliver RNA to human cells using bacteria, Gomelsky told The Associated Press.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Google’s streaming behemoth is becoming ever more integral to media development, distribution and marketing plans for most contenders in media, from the biggest Hollywood studios to indie startups.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of become
Verb
  • Lightly oil your hands and punch down dough, then transfer to prepared pan.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
  • To do so, place the slices in a nonstick or lightly oiled skillet over low to medium-low heat and cover the pan.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of oil
Verb
  • Now imagine whipping your phone out after work, telling the world about it, and landing a brand deal worth $10K or more.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Now imagine the same hot and dry conditions, but with the Santa Anas whipping at 40 miles an hour.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of whip
Verb
  • A couple of sections in the shade, on the home sideline, rose a bit more than 3%.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But then shipping disruptions, rising fuel costs, and steep international tariffs made exporting increasingly difficult, prompting Yu to turn her attention to building a domestic market.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • White said Salvation Brands is not to be confused with the big brand management firms such as Authentic Brands Group and WHP Global, which are getting all the attention these days.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Waddhwa moved to strike a film development deal around the incident after getting unsolicited inquiries from Indian media firms.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of get

Phrases Containing wax

Browse Nearby Words

wavy
wax
waxed
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Cite this Entry

“Wax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wax. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wax

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