rub synonyms

rub

n.

  1. A rubbing action

    massage, rubdown, brushing, stroke, smoothing, scraping, scouring, buffing, rasping, friction, attrition; see also touch 2.

  2. A difficulty

    hindrance, obstacle, dilemma; see difficulty 1, 2, impediment 1.

    Antonyms answer*, solution*, aid.

rub

v.

  1. To subject to friction

    stroke, scrape, smooth, abrade, scour, grate, grind, wear away, graze, rasp, knead, fret, massage, rub down, polish, shine, burnish, buff, brush, curry, scrub, swab, erase, rub out, file, chafe, clean.

  2. To apply by rubbing

    brush, daub, bedaub, paint, smear, spread, cover, coat, plaster, anoint, slather*.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.