Synonyms for

Rubbed

Verb / rʌbd / Another word for rubbed — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

to move one's hand or an object back and forth against something

Synonyms & similar words

scratch fret fray chafe rub itch polished buffed massaged scoured wiped cleaned scrubbed grazed caressed stroked smoothed kneaded pressed chafed frictioned fondled handled palpated patted mopped

Synonyms by register

Formal

frictioned abraded massaged

Informal

scraped scrubbed roughed

Literary

caressed stroked

Antonyms

smoothed polished sleeked buffed gleamed shone

Common collocations

  • rubbed shoulders
  • rubbed out
  • rubbed raw
  • rubbed in
  • rubbed against
  • rubbed the wrong way
  • rubbed the lamp

Word family

noun rub
verb rub
adjective rubbed

Usage note

The past tense and past participle of 'rub' is 'rubbed'. It often implies applying pressure and friction, either to clean, smooth, or cause discomfort.

Example sentences

  1. She rubbed her hands together to warm them up.
  2. He rubbed the eraser on the pencil to make it clean.
  3. The cat rubbed against my leg as I walked by.
  4. I rubbed my sore muscles after my workout.
  5. She rubbed oil on the pan so the eggs wouldn't stick.

Quotes

  • I have rubbed shoulders with priests, bishops, cardinals, archbishops and one pope.
  • The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions. A chip on the shoulder is too heavy a piece of baggage to carry through life. - John Hancock
  • A smile is the universal welcome. - Max Eastman

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