as in to grease
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
used a petroleum based machine oil to lubricate the gears
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Recent Examples of lubricate
Estrogen keeps everything in these areas healthy, lubricated, and moist, and even preserves the skin’s thickness.
—
Erica Sweeney, SELF, 20 June 2025
Spirits can offer protection to homes and businesses, ensure a fruitful year or safeguard the health of friends and loved ones — a sip of the Champagne of fruit sodas lubricating these prayers of course.
—Vanessa Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Or, as Philadelphia Eagles fans would have it, go lubricate the lampposts with the tears of their vanquished rivals.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Some will lubricate the digestive tract, helping prevent a buildup of hair, others are laxative that keeps the passages flowing.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lubricate
Erica Sweeney, SELF, 20 June 2025
Spirits can offer protection to homes and businesses, ensure a fruitful year or safeguard the health of friends and loved ones — a sip of the Champagne of fruit sodas lubricating these prayers of course.
—Vanessa Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Or, as Philadelphia Eagles fans would have it, go lubricate the lampposts with the tears of their vanquished rivals.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Some will lubricate the digestive tract, helping prevent a buildup of hair, others are laxative that keeps the passages flowing.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lubricate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lubricate
Verb
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Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch rimmed sheet pan and line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.—
Cathy Thomas,
Mercury News,
8 July 2025
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But the new involvement by the president greased the skids for both camps to ultimately get on board.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Rather than focusing on which oils to consume, the focal point should be a person's overall diet, says Christopher Gardner, a nutrition scientist and professor of medicine at Stanford University.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
8 July 2025
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The heirloom isn’t trouble-free, Monreal says, requiring winding every month and oiling its wood once every year.—
William Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lubricate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lubricate. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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