1
as in greases
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
waxing a surfboard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whips
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
1
as in increases
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
2
as in becomes
to eventually have as a state or quality
waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waxes
Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026
In his op-ed reflecting on the texts, the secretary takes to task the Westminster establishment that allowed Mandelson’s selection, but also waxes philosophical about sexism, diversity, and inclusion.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
At the start of the interview, Hartley recounted his famous scene with Hahn, 52, from 2017's A Bad Moms Christmas, in which Hahn's character, Carla, waxes his character's crotch.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
The account, SamServed, has posts that date back to November of last year, in which Smith waxes poetic about a Copenhagen restaurant called Kebabistan.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026
In his op-ed reflecting on the texts, the secretary takes to task the Westminster establishment that allowed Mandelson’s selection, but also waxes philosophical about sexism, diversity, and inclusion.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
At the start of the interview, Hartley recounted his famous scene with Hahn, 52, from 2017's A Bad Moms Christmas, in which Hahn's character, Carla, waxes his character's crotch.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waxes
Verb
-
View this post on Instagram Access greases the gears of the entire apparatus by creating its own positive feedback loop, like an ouroboros of exclusivity.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
No eyeball-grabbing videos, no partisan commentary or agenda, and none of the edge or snark that greases the gears of the perpetual-political-outrage machine.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the fourth minute, Meschack Elia whips a ball across the box to Bakambu, eight yards from goal.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
-
Stephen Fry whips out his phone to snag a picture with Johnny Knoxville inside the Fox Upfront 2026 afterparty in New York City on May 11.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
China’s drive for technological self-sufficiency channels ever more resources into expanding industrial capacity, which, against a backdrop of weak domestic demand, only increases its dependence on exports.—
Neil Shearing,
Time,
20 May 2026
-
Furthermore, heat increases electrical resistance for EV batteries and chargers, resulting in longer, more taxing charging sessions.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Verb
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If Raskin becomes the committee’s chairman, many of those investigative letters will become subpoenas.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
While the killing dealt one of the biggest blows to ISIS’s global network in years, disrupting operations in northeastern Nigeria, the terror group's top leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, remains at large as Africa becomes the movement's global epicenter.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Ramakrishnan typically oils her hair twice a week before washing it.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Snow sometimes dusts the surrounding slopes, melting by afternoon into damp earth as manzanita and mountain lilac begin to flower.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
To demonstrate, Ejae smiles to form creases below her eyes, then dusts some brown powder onto the area.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The amount that can be contributed to a Roth IRA is phased out as MAGI rises.—
Bob Carlson,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Now the summer road trip season is approaching, when gasoline demand traditionally rises.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Confidence grows when pleasure and practicality can share the room.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
As resale increasingly shifts online and retail grows more automated, Vintage Store Day is ultimately betting that shoppers still want discovery to feel personal, local and a bit unpredictable.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxes. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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