1
as in greasing
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
waxing a surfboard
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2
as in whipping
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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1
as in increasing
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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2
as in becoming
to eventually have as a state or quality
waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend
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Recent Examples of waxing
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Known as the Dragon Slayer, he’s often shown meditating, praying, waxing philosophical, and pontificating on nobility, integrity and honor.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
At the end of the month, when a waxing crescent moon is spotted in Saudi Arabia, nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide and less than 1% of Oklahomans who are Muslim, according to the Pew Research Center, will celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Oklahoman, 18 Mar. 2026
This year, a waxing crescent moon will not interfere with meteor watching.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Walker worked as a janitor at Buffalo’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute, waxing and shining the floors.
—Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
In addition to those six planets, a 92%-illuminated waxing gibbous Moon will be high in the eastern sky.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Watch from February 26 to 27, as the waxing gibbous disk glides near luminous Jupiter.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 18 Feb. 2026
Here’s Theravada and then Cleo Reed and then Bruiser Wolf waxing poetic on the No Limit classic Shell Shocked by Mac.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Look to the southern sky as darkness falls on March 27 to see the thickening form of the waxing gibbous moon glowing close to the stars of the Beehive Cluster (M44) at the heart of the constellation Cancer, the crab.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Known as the Dragon Slayer, he’s often shown meditating, praying, waxing philosophical, and pontificating on nobility, integrity and honor.
—Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
At the end of the month, when a waxing crescent moon is spotted in Saudi Arabia, nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide and less than 1% of Oklahomans who are Muslim, according to the Pew Research Center, will celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Oklahoman, 18 Mar. 2026
This year, a waxing crescent moon will not interfere with meteor watching.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Walker worked as a janitor at Buffalo’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute, waxing and shining the floors.
—Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
In addition to those six planets, a 92%-illuminated waxing gibbous Moon will be high in the eastern sky.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Watch from February 26 to 27, as the waxing gibbous disk glides near luminous Jupiter.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 18 Feb. 2026
Here’s Theravada and then Cleo Reed and then Bruiser Wolf waxing poetic on the No Limit classic Shell Shocked by Mac.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxing. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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