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
Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2025
Second, brand partnerships should allow for a brand rub that will impact your brand positively.
—Arnav Sharma, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 31 Mar. 2025
To prevent scratches, spray Windex on a soft cloth, and gently rub the crystal item until dust and smears are removed.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Noun
This is soft, sweet barbecue smoked over pecan wood, with a slightly sweet rub instead of the peppery (and pricey) Hill Country style like at That Big Grocery Store across the highway.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2025
Second, brand partnerships should allow for a brand rub that will impact your brand positively.
—Arnav Sharma, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
Davis remembered Boseman’s girlfriend and makeup artist rubbing his back and playing meditative music while creating the Netflix drama.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 31 Mar. 2025
To prevent scratches, spray Windex on a soft cloth, and gently rub the crystal item until dust and smears are removed.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rub
Noun
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Early signs of the disease include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, while half of all HPS patients also go through headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal pain.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the most common issues are headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.—
Dr. Mishal Reja,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To be fair, goalies wore more modern-day uniforms in Gretzky's final seasons, and two years before Ovechkin entered the NHL, the length of goalie pads was limited to 38 inches.—
Jim Sergent,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2025
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The clothing characters wear can be created to deftly pass on information that cannot be left to dialogue or exposition.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This is a major project that requires dismantling, sanding, stripping, and prepping cabinets properly for the best-looking results.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2025
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Corbet’s real crush is on the 1990s and 2000s products of high-end, coffee-table-book designers such as Tadao Ando or Peter Zumthor, who favoured singular, funeral monuments, with an obsessive sanding away of brutalism’s rugged surfaces.—
Matt Shaw,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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As part of its comeback efforts, Farfetch has been polishing the machinery of the business as well, slashing clearance and markdown activity, and extending its free returns policy to 30 days.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
3 Apr. 2025
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Buff and Shine Next, a buffing wheel polishes the pieces to remove any rough edges or scratches.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The human invaders as usual are a major threat to Pandora in an existential sense, plus former military guy/Na'vi villain Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is a constant thorn in their sides.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
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Judges' grants of nationwide relief have been a thorn in the administration's side since Trump took office in January.—
Christina Gatti,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Now, just as television’s role turned front-row briefing seats into prime real estate, evolving technology may erode the importance of giving those seats to television and newswire services.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Apr. 2025
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Chevron also challenged the costly wetlands restoration project proposed by the parish, which involved removing large amounts of contaminated soil and filling in the swaths fragmented wetlands eroded over the last century.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Now, Lionel Messi and Miami have ground to make up on their home pitch.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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On TV and in real life, the bastards were grinding us down.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There’s no math or history class that can teach you how to smooth that over.—
Mary Frances Ruskell,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
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Financial markets and the economy could be in for further turbulence, but the right dividend-paying stocks may help smooth the ride, according to Jefferies.—
Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rub. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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