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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2025
The recipe, from Butts To Go in Pell City, Alabama are coated with a Memphis-style dry rub and cooked low and slow for the most tender, finger-licking results.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025
Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Sep. 2025
Spills can be blotted (never rubbed) with a dry cloth since the fabric is non-absorptive, and for more stubborn stains, dry cleaning is recommended.
—Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Noun
For the next several hours, Jim Piazza said, members poured beer on Tim, performed a sternum rub, slapped him, held him down on the couch and threw things at him in an attempt to revive him.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2025
The recipe, from Butts To Go in Pell City, Alabama are coated with a Memphis-style dry rub and cooked low and slow for the most tender, finger-licking results.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
Lenker, in plaid, rubs her eyes; James Krivchenia leans forward, sparky and alert; Meek, outdoors in the Topanga sunshine, wears cycling glasses and a frowzy hat.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Sep. 2025
Spills can be blotted (never rubbed) with a dry cloth since the fabric is non-absorptive, and for more stubborn stains, dry cleaning is recommended.
—Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rub
Noun
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The fight over transit funding is just one part of a bigger headache—Pennsylvania’s budget is more than nine weeks late.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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Symptoms of Chagas disease include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and eyelid swelling.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Officials said that none of the passengers on the boat were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident, and alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the crash.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Rare was the big public event in which none of the bold names were telling red-carpet interlocutors that were wearing Armani.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The companies that scale beyond pilots don’t try to sand away every rough edge.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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Even the DeSantis administration might have some qualms about sanding off crosswalk markings within sight of the club where 49 people died in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Given their stature, facilities and squad, this team is a rough diamond waiting to be polished.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Plenty of brands already offer or are transitioning to TPO-free formulas that contain different photoinitiators (a chemical that makes gel polishes cure under a lamp instead of air-drying like regular polish) such as TPO-L, BAPO, or other resin initiators.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Primus has expressed skepticism about rail mergers and would likely have been a thorn in the side of this rail merger.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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The Angels pulled out a 4-3 victory as Jo Adell remained a thorn in the Royals’ side.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If trust in the institution erodes this will have a negative effect on public life more generally, calling into question the impartiality of the justice system.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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This also presents an opportunity for Europe to turn strongly towards renewables and develop more nuclear, wind, and water infrastructure in order to fully account for the gap which would further erode Russia’s relevance in that market.—
Earl Carr,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Others like Geno Smith had to grind their way back to starting roles after being written off.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
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Instead, the army became bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, and the West was stunned by Moscow’s poor battlefield performance.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The bottoms feature a wide, high-waistband for a smoothing appearance and are subtly flared at the hem, offering a leg-lengthening look.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
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Infused with amino peptides to firm and smooth the skin, niacinamide to nourish the skin barrier, and hyaluronic acid for a plumping touch, Olay’s lifting cream offers moisture with an extra dose of rejuvenating benefits.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rub. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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