RUBS Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

rubs 1 of 2

noun

plural of rub

as in headaches

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rubs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rub

as in wears

to damage or diminish by continued friction the brake pads were rubbed away as a result of years of use

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in grinds

to make smooth by friction the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in polishes

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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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 rubs

Noun

The beloved mascot of Pocasset Hardware, Franklin wins everyone over with his ultra-friendly personality, generous kisses and endless requests for belly rubs. — Staff Author Updated, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026 Anything below 20,000 double rubs may wear down faster and is better suited to a bouclé loveseat, accent chair or other low-traffic piece of bouclé furniture. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 Look for at least 30,000 double rubs for a sofa that will see everyday use. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026 The posh pup has a home in the lobby and outside the front entrance, and sits (and stays) at the ready for belly rubs. — Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 2 July 2026 Winning has afforded him opportunities to sell and market a line of spice rubs, sauces, glazes, seasonings, baths, brines, and injectables. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026 While small amounts hidden in seasonings or spice rubs are less likely to cause serious illness, larger exposures, such as a dog eating raw onions or a whole head of garlic, can be dangerous. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 15 June 2026 From a sophisticated suburban crowd to the Bobo’s of the right bank, every type of Parisian rubs shoulders with jet-setting guests in the convivial seventh-floor Art Deco brasserie meets cocktail bar, Le Tout-Paris. — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026 Suitable gifts for this guy—a barbecue blanket for resting meats, or a selection of dry rubs geared to smoking. — Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026

Verb

Achord stands behind Smack each time and, before one kick, rubs his belly with his other hand over his head as some sort of signal. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 But during the following two years, Van Lith saw only gigantic tracks and adrenaline-inspiring antler rubs that had been left behind by the buck of his dreams. — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026 Hundreds of bottles of hot sauce and meat rubs line the exterior walls. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Edward rubs his lamb with turmeric, Aleppo chile powder, salt and pepper. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 The nurse rubs circles on her lower back, clucking at the struggle of turning the pregnant body to the side like a lopsided gourd. — Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery. — H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026 The plastic bristles coax out loose hair as your cat rubs against it. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubs

Noun

Tibbetts says the fires have already created plenty of logistics headaches.

— Anya Kamenetz, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
But nightmare headaches and blood pressure spikes from her teenage years came back at age 24.

— Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of headaches

Verb

Olivia Miles, the rookie point guard for the Minnesota Lynx, wears a pair of bug-eyed sports goggles, black and bulbous, sometimes held in place by a thick strap that runs through her luxuriant Afro.

— Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Every patient wears a card on a lanyard, encoded so the equipment knows who's standing in front of it.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of wears

Verb

Today, the company has a staff of about 35 and roasts, winnows, and grinds chocolate from scratch at its factory in Somerville.

— Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026
That dust grinds at the wheel bearings and works past the seals.

— Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of grinds

Verb

While a classic button-down shirt is always timeless, a peplum top offers the same wearability with a waist-defining silhouette that instantly polishes any bottom they’re paired with.

— Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
The PowerPaste polishes and protects more delicate surfaces, while the Tangerine Clean is more abrasive for serious scrubbing.

— Brittany VanDerBill, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026

Definition of polishes

Verb

The reassuring finding, across the research represented in the room at the CIFAR workshop, is that candidness about uncertainty generally maintains or builds trust rather than erodes it.

— Aleeza Gerstein, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
The vision ultimately describes a county where growth enhances rather than erodes the characteristics that make Placer distinct.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of erodes

Verb

Thorn cuts the pieces for his puzzle-style artworks, sands them, paints them, then glues them into a frame.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Sawdust sprays as Matt Sams meticulously sands the edges of a balcony railing that will soon be affixed to the front of a house.

— Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026

Definition of sands

Verb

After a thorough cleanse and gua sha to encourage lymphatic drainage, Galina smooths on a cooling mask and leaves it to work its magic while turning her attention to my scalp.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
At its center is wild soybean extract fermented for a whopping 120 hours, a process that breaks down the ingredient's components and creates a lightweight, nourishing formula that smooths the look of skin texture and keeps excess sebum in check.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026