1
as in greasing
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction
waxing a surfboard
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in becoming
to eventually have as a state or quality
waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waxing
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Here’s Theravada and then Cleo Reed and then Bruiser Wolf waxing poetic on the No Limit classic Shell Shocked by Mac.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
This mountain contemporary has a ski room with boot dryers and a waxing station; Park City Mountain Resort, which hosted events during the 2002 Winter Olympics, is about five minutes away.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 2026
To see the event, look to the west after sunset to spot Saturn just below the waxing crescent moon.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Want to capture beautiful photos of the waxing moon?
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Round cheekbones like a waxing moon, uptilted eyes like a fox's, a nose that sloped sharply downward.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
The waxing crescent is now 17% illuminated and sits higher in the post-sunset sky.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
All eyes on Autry In another Patriots era, Bill Belichick would have spent several minutes this week waxing poetic about Denico Autry.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Saturday evening, however, brings a 99%-lit (waxing gibbous) moon rising in the late afternoon, visible even before sunset.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Here’s Theravada and then Cleo Reed and then Bruiser Wolf waxing poetic on the No Limit classic Shell Shocked by Mac.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
This mountain contemporary has a ski room with boot dryers and a waxing station; Park City Mountain Resort, which hosted events during the 2002 Winter Olympics, is about five minutes away.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 2026
To see the event, look to the west after sunset to spot Saturn just below the waxing crescent moon.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Want to capture beautiful photos of the waxing moon?
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Round cheekbones like a waxing moon, uptilted eyes like a fox's, a nose that sloped sharply downward.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
The waxing crescent is now 17% illuminated and sits higher in the post-sunset sky.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
All eyes on Autry In another Patriots era, Bill Belichick would have spent several minutes this week waxing poetic about Denico Autry.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waxing. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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