Categories: GeneralSynonyms

RUB: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for RUB?

Need another word that means the same as “rub”? Find 36 synonyms and 30 related words for “rub” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Rub” are: chafe, fray, fret, scratch, itch, massage, knead, apply, put on, smear, smooth, spread, work in, cream in, clean, mop, sponge, swab, pinch, scrape, abrade, hang-up, hitch, snag, wipe, polish, buffing, problem, difficulty, trouble, drawback, hindrance, obstacle, obstruction, impediment

Rub as a Noun

Definitions of "Rub" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “rub” as a noun can have the following definitions:

  • The act of rubbing or wiping.
  • A mixture of spices and other seasonings that is applied to the surface of meat or fish before cooking.
  • The central problem or difficulty in a situation.
  • (in bowling) an uneven patch of ground that impedes or diverts a bowl.
  • An unforeseen obstacle.
  • An act of rubbing.
  • An ointment designed to be rubbed on the skin to ease pain.

Synonyms of "Rub" as a noun (15 Words)

buffingAn implement consisting of soft material mounted on a block; used for polishing (as in manicuring.
difficultyA condition or state of affairs almost beyond one’s ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome.
Had difficulty walking.
drawbackA feature that renders something less acceptable; a disadvantage or problem.
They had been complaining of difficulties in getting quick reimbursement of duty drawback.
hang-upAn unforeseen obstacle.
hindranceAny obstruction that impedes or is burdensome.
A hindrance to the development process.
hitchAn act of hitch hiking.
Everything went without a hitch.
impedimentSomething immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress.
A serious impediment to scientific progress.
massageThe rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints of the body with the hands, especially to relieve tension or pain.
Massage can ease tiredness.
obstacleSomething immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted.
The poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education.
obstructionThe physical condition of blocking or filling a passage with an obstruction.
Walkers could proceed with the minimum of obstruction.
polishA preparation used in polishing.
They performed with great polish.
problemAn inquiry starting from given conditions to investigate or demonstrate a fact, result, or law.
Motivation of staff can also be a problem.
snagA rent or tear in fabric caused by a snag.
Keep an emery board handy in case of nail snags.
troubleA source of difficulty.
The kid had been no trouble up to now.
wipeA cinematographic effect in which an existing picture seems to be wiped out by a new one as the boundary between them moves across the screen.
Bert was giving the machine a final wipe over with an oily rag.

Usage Examples of "Rub" as a noun

  • She pulled out a towel and gave her head a quick rub.
  • He will be using coffee in a rub for a rack of lamb.
  • A muscle rub.
  • He gave the hood a quick rub.
  • That was the rub—she had not cared enough.

Rub as a Verb

Definitions of "Rub" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “rub” as a verb can have the following definitions:

  • Work an ingredient into (a mixture) by breaking and blending it with firm movements of one's fingers.
  • Move (one's hand, a cloth, or another object) back and forth against a surface.
  • Cause friction.
  • Make dry, clean, or smooth by rubbing.
  • (of a bowl) be slowed or diverted by the unevenness of the ground.
  • Reproduce the design of (a sepulchral brass or a stone) by rubbing paper laid on it with coloured wax, pencil, or chalk, etc.
  • Apply firm pressure to the surface of (something), using a repeated back and forth motion.
  • Scrape or rub as if to relieve itching.
  • Move over something with pressure.
  • Apply (ointment, polish, or a similar substance) with a back and forth motion.
  • (of shoes or other hard items in contact with the skin) cause pain through friction.
  • (with reference to two things) move or cause to move to and fro against each other with a certain amount of friction.

Synonyms of "Rub" as a verb (21 Words)

abradeRub hard or scrub.
It was a landscape slowly abraded by a fine stinging dust.
applyApply oneself to.
Please apply yourself to your homework.
chafeCause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations.
Her arms chafed where the rope bit into them.
cleanBe cleanable.
The boys cleaned the sandwich platters.
cream inPut on cream, as on one’s face or body.
fray(of a male deer) rub (a bush or small tree) with the head in order to remove the velvet from newly formed antlers, or to mark territory during the rut.
The friction frayed the sleeve.
fretProvide a musical instrument with frets.
She fretted about the cost of groceries.
itchCause to perceive an itch.
Paul was itching to get outside.
kneadMake bread or pottery by kneading flour or clay.
She kneaded his back.
massageGive a massage to.
The accounts had been massaged to suit the government.
mopTo wash or wipe with or as if with a mop.
She mopped the floor and cleaned out two cupboards.
pinchMake ridges into by pinching together.
If I scraped and pinched a bit I might manage.
put onAttribute or give.
scrapeBend the knees and bow in a servile manner.
For some years he scraped a living as a tutor.
scratchPlay a record using the scratch technique.
Banks seem prepared to scratch stabilization charges.
smearStain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance.
Smear the wall with paint.
smoothMake smooth or smoother as if by rubbing.
A conference would be held to smooth the way for the establishment of the provisional government.
spongeGive a decorative effect to a painted surface by applying a different shade of paint with a sponge.
I ll go and sponge this orange juice off my dress.
spreadCover by spreading something over.
The Marines spread out across the docks.
swabWash with a swab or a mop.
The crew were swabbing down the decks.
work inExert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity.

Usage Examples of "Rub" as a verb

  • Sift the flour into a bowl and rub in the fat.
  • He was rubbing an old brass.
  • I rubbed myself dry.
  • She took out her sun cream and rubbed some on her nose.
  • He rubbed at the earth on his jeans.
  • He rubbed a finger round the rim of his mug.
  • Badly fitting shoes can rub painfully.
  • She rubbed her arm, where she had a large bruise.
  • Many insects make noises by rubbing parts of their bodies together.
  • She found a towel and began rubbing her hair.
  • Rub my hands.
  • The ice breaks into small floes that rub against each other.
  • Rub oil into her skin.

Associations of "Rub" (30 Words)

caressTouch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner.
The caresses of the breeze played over his face.
chafe(with reference to a part of the body) make or become sore by rubbing against something.
The collar chafed his neck.
dabA brief application of a piece of absorbent material to a surface.
Apply concealer with light dabs.
deleteRemove (a product, especially a recording) from the catalogue of those available for purchase.
If one important gene is deleted from an animal s DNA other genes can stand in.
discomfortA state of unease, worry, or embarrassment.
His remarks caused her discomfort.
effaceRemove completely from recognition or memory.
To efface oneself is not the easiest of duties which the teacher can undertake.
encourageSpur on.
The intention is to encourage new writing talent.
encouragedInspired with confidence.
eradicateKill in large numbers.
This disease has been eradicated from the world.
erasableCapable of being effaced.
A signal too loud to be erasable in a single pass through the erase head.
eraseRemove from memory or existence.
The tape could be magnetically erased and reused.
exciseLevy an excise tax on.
The surgeon excised the tumor.
expulsionThe action or process of forcing someone to leave a place.
His expulsion from the union.
expungeObliterate or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant.
The kind of man that could expunge an unsatisfactory incident from his memory.
frayA noisy fight.
As the temperature rose tempers frayed.
frictionEffort expended in moving one object over another with pressure.
A considerable amount of friction between father and son.
fumbleAn act of managing or dealing with something clumsily.
He fumbled about in the dark but could not find her.
irritationAn uncomfortable feeling of mental painfulness or distress.
The minor irritations of life.
itchBe the site of or cause an itch.
She is itching to start the project.
itchingAn irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch.
massageGive a massage to.
She massaged his sore back.
obliterateMake invisible or indistinct; conceal or cover.
The special stamp should be placed on the left hand side and not be used to obliterate the postage stamp.
patPat or squeeze fondly or playfully especially under the chin.
He patted the bench beside him and I sat down.
rapGenre of African American music of the 1980s and 1990s in which rhyming lyrics are chanted to a musical accompaniment several forms of rap have emerged.
Social services were smarting from an Ombudsman s rap.
scratchA mark or wound made by scratching.
Tabitha wondered how long the woman had been scratching a living on the waterways.
strikeA pitch that passes through the strike zone.
Strike a medal.
tapCut a female screw thread with a tap.
The FBI was tapping the phone line of the suspected spy.
touchAn act of touching someone or something.
He touched back a cross field ball.
wipePass a swipe card over an electronic reader.
Wipe the blackboard.
Alexei

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