as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
even what seems to be a dream job usually turns out to have its fair share of rubs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction
the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to sand
to make smooth by friction
the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rub
Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 6 May 2025
Cattle dog mix Age: 4 years old Say hello to Orchid, a gorgeous girl with a sleek black coat, bright white accents, and a speckled belly that’s just begging for rubs.
—Trish Stinger, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2025
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 10 June 2025
If pests persist, rub them off with your fingers, a soft toothbrush, or a blast of water, from a hose or from your kitchen faucet.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Noun
These ingredients provide the base flavor for your rub.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 6 May 2025
Cattle dog mix Age: 4 years old Say hello to Orchid, a gorgeous girl with a sleek black coat, bright white accents, and a speckled belly that’s just begging for rubs.
—Trish Stinger, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2025
Verb
The stonework in the palace would have the oil rub from people touching the stone over centuries.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 10 June 2025
If pests persist, rub them off with your fingers, a soft toothbrush, or a blast of water, from a hose or from your kitchen faucet.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rub
Noun
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This is just the wrong place for trash fees to be charged and is pretty much guaranteed to create massive headaches for homeowners.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 June 2025
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Bringing a pet to the vet's office for an appointment can often cause owners headaches, but one woman's chaotic experience left the internet in stitches.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
Verb
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Devers, who often wears his emotions on sleeve, offered only a straightforward answer.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
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Ora wore her hair in long, loose waves for the event, with her curtain bangs parted in the center and pushed to either side of her face, then curled into flipped-out, Farrah Fawcett-style swoops.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Hand-turned and sanded from a durable walnut wood, this one is finished with a food-safe beeswax oil blend, according to East Fork Pottery.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2025
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But the popularity of sanding down the tension and defining characteristics out of romances has also inadvertently sanded down much of the character diversity.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
13 May 2025
Verb
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The 55-year-old former model polished up the look with Christian Louboutin denim pumps.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
14 June 2025
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Williams is also still polishing his footwork and becoming more comfortable operating from under center.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
Noun
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The Houthis, who are a part of Iran’s proxy network and who the regime supplies with weapons and intelligence, have been a thorn in Israel’s side since disrupting commercial shipping in the Red Sea at the start of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2025
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But his days as one of five aldermen who said no to Daley’s infamous parking meter deal or a quixotic early thorn to Mayor Rahm Emanuel are long gone.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Opaque brokerage fees can erode returns, while fraud is a constant risk.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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Critics warned that such measures could erode due process rights and destabilize the legal status of millions of permanent residents.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Verb
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It’s made from grinding green tea leaves—which can be varying grades of quality—into a fine powder, which is then whisked with hot water to create a thick, frothy liquid.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
Vogue,
20 June 2025
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Toss in an uncaring government agent with an axe to grind.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
19 June 2025
Verb
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The researchers of the 2022 study also found that people on the receiving end of indirect attacks also end up responding with silence, politeness or attempts to smooth things over.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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The star of the show is its capsule technology, which kicks in right away to smooth things out.—
Deanna Pai,
Glamour,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rub. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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