WAXING Synonyms: 175 Similar and Opposite Words

waxing 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of wax

as in greasing

to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction waxing a surfboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

waxing

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of wax

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in becoming

to eventually have as a state or quality waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 waxing

Verb

That year, the Perseids will peak in the glare of a waxing moon just four days from turning full, and the moonlight will hide many of the shower's fainter shooting stars. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Keep in mind that tonight’s waxing gibbous moon will be 60 percent illuminated, which could make spotting fainter auroras tricky. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026 The wild swings of recent weeks, driven by waxing and waning hopes for a lasting boost to corporate profits from artificial intelligence, have abated in the past several days. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 Today, restoration usually involves hiding blemishes with cosmetics or waxing over small abrasions. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 Yet despite his affinity for Wallace, none of Randolph’s waxing poetry turns false in the wash. — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026 Unveiling it early frees up Feige and company to either show off more exclusive footage or to spend the time waxing poetic about Infinity Vision. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 July 2026 Friday, July 24Look south about an hour after sunset tonight to see the now 82%-lit waxing gibbous moon hanging just a couple of degrees from Antares. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 On July 16 and 17, the waxing crescent moon will be photobombing Venus. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waxing

Verb

For instance, if $100 was the agreed upon rate for a trucking run and the invoice lists that same figure, the system automatically releases funds, greasing the skids of commerce.

— Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prep your pan by greasing the bottom and sides of a 13x9 with cooking spray or butter.

— Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026

Definition of greasing

Verb

Whisk with ¾ cup whole milk and use in any sweet recipe that doesn’t require whipping.

— Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026
At the landing zone, with bullets whipping and cracking around them, Capers—barely clinging to consciousness—refused to board the helicopter until every last man, and his dog’s body, was aboard.

— Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

Qantas said demand for international travel remained strong, with both Qantas and its low-cost carrier Jetstar increasing capacity and unit revenue, although higher fuel costs weighed on international earnings.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
His foundation is aiming to spend $200 billion by 2045 with an increasing focus on AI.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of increasing

Verb

Coming into the fight, the headlines were all about Itauma, the 21-year-old Brit with a chance to make history by becoming the youngest heavyweight to win a world title since Mike Tyson did so at age 20 in 1986.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Making history is fast becoming an everyday thing for Caitlin Clark—same goes for her friend Taylor Swift.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of becoming

Verb

Semiconductor investment expected to climb China’s semiconductor capital expenditure is expected to continue growing at double-digit annual rates through the end of the decade, reaching $82 billion in 2030, according to Goldman.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Instead, the chief executive said Hilton's middle- and upper-middle segments have swung from posting negative numbers to growing at rates as high as 6%.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of growing

Browse Nearby Words

waxes

waxing

waxy

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Waxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxing. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of waxing

verb (1)

verb (2)

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes