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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
2
as in grinds
to make smooth by friction
the furniture restorer rubbed the board perfectly smooth with sandpaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in polishes
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the butler rubbed the silver tea set until it gleamed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rubs
Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
The dogs ran toward Gary and fell on their backs for belly rubs.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Smoked salt has a smoky flavor and works well in rubs and marinades.
—Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 30 May 2026
Some consumers find the strap rubs or digs into the back of the heel.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 May 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
Dry the flower buds to infuse baked goods, teas, ice cream, and even dry rubs with floral aroma and flavor.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
Upgrade your rubs, soups, and pasta with just a sprinkle.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Sourced from Springer Mountain Farms, they are brined overnight, slowly roasted in duck fat with Zepeddie’s seasoning blend, then flash fried and tossed in a selection of housemade sauces and rubs.
—Tristan Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Give him lots of treats and belly rubs!
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
It can be added to marinades, soups, sauces, rubs, and is often on the table to be added to whatever dish is being served.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2026
What rubs us the wrong way is the suggestion that this proposal is purely about sustainability.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
This might happen because antler rubs strip bark away, revealing lignin-rich inner wood that reemits the longer wavelengths in a way bark does not.
—Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 21 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, Martin’s blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way, including schoolteacher Louisa Gavin (Abigail Spencer).
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2026
There’s also Darem (George Hawkins), an arrogant rich-kid who immediately rubs Caleb the wrong way, and Genesis (Bella Shepard), a high-achieving nepo baby/admiral’s daughter who’s composed but competitive.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
The dogs ran toward Gary and fell on their backs for belly rubs.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
Smoked salt has a smoky flavor and works well in rubs and marinades.
—Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 30 May 2026
Some consumers find the strap rubs or digs into the back of the heel.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 May 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
Dry the flower buds to infuse baked goods, teas, ice cream, and even dry rubs with floral aroma and flavor.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
Upgrade your rubs, soups, and pasta with just a sprinkle.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Sourced from Springer Mountain Farms, they are brined overnight, slowly roasted in duck fat with Zepeddie’s seasoning blend, then flash fried and tossed in a selection of housemade sauces and rubs.
—Tristan Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Give him lots of treats and belly rubs!
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
It can be added to marinades, soups, sauces, rubs, and is often on the table to be added to whatever dish is being served.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2026
What rubs us the wrong way is the suggestion that this proposal is purely about sustainability.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
This might happen because antler rubs strip bark away, revealing lignin-rich inner wood that reemits the longer wavelengths in a way bark does not.
—Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 21 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, Martin’s blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way, including schoolteacher Louisa Gavin (Abigail Spencer).
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2026
There’s also Darem (George Hawkins), an arrogant rich-kid who immediately rubs Caleb the wrong way, and Genesis (Bella Shepard), a high-achieving nepo baby/admiral’s daughter who’s composed but competitive.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubs
Noun
-
Common symptoms include headaches, fever, diarrhea, muscle weakness, tingling or numbness, neck stiffness or flu-like symptoms.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
This first patient had fever, headaches, muscle pain, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhea and abdominal pain, among other symptoms.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Farrell, who also narrates in a soft voice, often wears a look of shy incomprehension, as if a beat behind in translating the world around him, a stranger in a strange land.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Non-inverter ACs feature simpler parts that are cheaper and easier to fix, but the stop-start cycle wears the mechanical parts out faster, so these air conditioners are more prone to frequent repairs and tend to have a shorter lifespan.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Decision speed grinds to a halt when every choice has to work its way through layers of process.—
Nick Chandi,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Sorry for the rant, but this one really grinds my gears.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Expect to see even tinier dots and minuscule French tips atop jelly polishes in summery shades like fuchsia and blood orange.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
4 June 2026
-
Sheer jelly polishes create a seamless ombré effect.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
However, some homeowners may be wary of planting roses because of their heavy thorns—especially in households with children or pets.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
15 June 2026
-
Often reaching up to six feet tall, these bushes, also known as brambles, have sharp thorns covering their branches.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Clarity builds trust; ambiguity erodes it.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
People leave, culture erodes, the playbook changes faster than management can rewrite it, and so the edge slips to newcomers.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Chapman sands his board occasionally to remove this top layer of funk.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Red algae extract draws moisture deep into the skin while adenosine, a naturally occurring component of skin that supports collagen production, simultaneously smooths, soothes, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles over time.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
13 June 2026
-
Its main ingredient, chebula, is a potent antioxidant that smooths and brightens skin.—
Christina Butan,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubs. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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