Clues for the word "RUB"
We've had 165 crossword clues used for this word, and seen it 631 times in crosswords. It was last seen in Mindfood Daily crossword on January 25, 2026.
Definition of rub
- v. t. - To subject (a body) to the action of something moving over its surface with pressure and friction, especially to the action of something moving back and forth; as, to rub the flesh with the hand; to rub wood with sandpaper.
- v. t. - To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; to graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the ground.
- v. t. - To cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface; as, to rub the hand over the body.
- v. t. - To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
- v. t. - To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; -- often with up or over; as, to rub up silver.
- v. t. - To hinder; to cross; to thwart.
- v. i. - To move along the surface of a body with pressure; to grate; as, a wheel rubs against the gatepost.
- v. i. - To fret; to chafe; as, to rub upon a sore.
- v. i. - To move or pass with difficulty; as, to rub through woods, as huntsmen; to rub through the world.
- n. - The act of rubbing; friction.
- n. - That which rubs; that which tends to hinder or obstruct motion or progress; hindrance; obstruction, an impediment; especially, a difficulty or obstruction hard to overcome; a pinch.
- n. - Inequality of surface, as of the ground in the game of bowls; unevenness.
- n. - Something grating to the feelings; sarcasm; joke; as, a hard rub.
- n. - Imperfection; failing; fault.
- n. - A chance.
- n. - A stone, commonly flat, used to sharpen cutting tools; a whetstone; -- called also rubstone.
Referring Clues
- Cause friction
- Start with down and out
- Hangup
- Difficulty, to the Bard
- Obstacle
- Irritation
- Polish
- Massage
- Catch
- Summon a genie, in a way
- Fly in the ointment
- Spices for barbecue
- Emulate a masseuse
- Chafe
- Obstacle, to Shakespeare
- "Ay, there's the ___": Hamlet
- Soothe, as sore muscles
- Summon a genie
- Signal the genie
- Difficulty
- Meat seasoning mixture
- Hitch
- Buff
- "Ay, there's the ___"
- Fondle, as a rabbit's foot
- Summon the genie
- Work on a stain, say
- Complication
- Pre-barbecuing spice application
- Impediment
- Barbecue spices
- Source of annoyance, or relaxation
- ___ down (massage)
- Health-spa offering
- Burnish
- Catch, to Hamlet
- Sticking point, to Hamlet
- "Ay, there's the ___"
- Obstacle, to Hamlet
- Do some massaging
- "Ay, there's the ___" (Shakespeare)
- Sticking point
- Hamlet's catch
- Summon a genie, perhaps
- Erase, with "out"
- Steak seasoning
- "... ay, there's the ___"
- Polish, say
- Pre-grilling application
- Abrade
- Hitch, for Hamlet
- "Ay, there's the ---"
- Hitch, to Hamlet
- ___ down (massage)
- Hamlet's obstacle
- Hang-up
- Emulate Aladdin
- Pregrilling application
- Stroke
- ___ elbows with
- Buff, e.g.
- Knead
- Wipe
- Back stroke?
- Bone of contention
- Emulate a masseur
- Give a massage to
- Barbecue application
- Smeared-on seasoning
- Cause friction, in a way
- Barbecue seasoning
- Soothe, perhaps
- Barbecue add-on
- Make like a masseur
- Blister
- Barbecue spice mix
- Pre-barbecuing mixture
- Cause a blister
- Cause some friction
- Barbecuing application of herbs and spices
- "Ay, there's the ___" (words from Hamlet)
- Pressure + friction
- Hamlet's hang-up
- "___-a-dub-dub, three men . . ."
- Complication, to Hamlet
- Prepare for a grilling
- Apply liniment
- Polish in a way
- Bit of barbecue
- Barbecue spice mixture
- Marinade alternative
- Coax (out), as a genie
- Cookout coating
- ___ the wrong way (annoy)
- "___-a-dub-dub..."
- Apply, as suntan lotion
- Act the masseur
- Liniment
- Ointment
- Apply ointment
- Try to get a genie out of a lamp
- Apply polish
- Be a masseuse
- Apply wax to furniture
- Polish or massage
- Move to and fro against a surface
- Prince "Clouds" line "Just ___ it on her back"
- Prince "Just ___ it on her back"
- 9 WASATABMassage
- A little massage from Ruby?
- Massage the tough part
- Polish some rubies
- A letter from Ruby (in Polish?)
- Apply friction to - difficulty
- Polish - difficulty
- Barbecuer's spice mix
- Barbecue chef's spice mixture
- Barbecue chef's mix
- Dry equivalent of a marinade
- Apply friction to
- Grate polish
- Back ___ (relaxing massage)
- Polish, e.g.
- Salve
- Steak coating
- Give a massage
- Spice mix for barbecuing
- Flavor source for grilling
- A cause of friction
- Get the genie out of the lamp
- Barbecuing concoction
- Spice mix for ribs
- Word after "belly" or "spice"
- Polish a surface
- Spice mixture
- Cause chafing, perhaps
- Use an eraser
- Barbecue pro’s seasoning
- Polish up a Cherubini piece
- Tofu steak coating
- A letter from Ruby at the massage parlour?
- "There's the ___"
- Central difficulty
- Barbecue coating
- A little massage from Ruby?
- Be a gentle masseuse
- BBQ spice combination
- Pitmaster's application
- Barbecue flavoring
- Spice ___
- Barbecue chicken coating
- ___ the wrong way
- Coat for a cookout
- Spice blend
- Barbecue chef's spice concoction
- Apply lotion
- BBQ coating
- Activate a genie's lamp, say
- Summon a genie?
- Caress
- Barbecue chef's spice blend
- Seasoning blend
- Create friction
- Difficulty, to Hamlet
- Barbecue blend
Last Seen In
- Mindfood Daily - January 25, 2026
- Mindfood Daily - January 19, 2026
- Mindfood Daily - January 10, 2026
- Evening Standard Quick - December 17, 2025
- Evening Standard Cryptic - December 01, 2025
- New Zealand Herald - November 29, 2025
- LA Times - November 28, 2025
- Evening Standard Easy - November 19, 2025
- Mindfood Daily - November 17, 2025
- Your Life Choices - November 09, 2025
- Your Life Choices - November 07, 2025
- New Zealand Herald - November 03, 2025
- LA Times - October 31, 2025
- Mindfood Daily - October 28, 2025
- New York Times - October 26, 2025
- Your Life Choices - October 09, 2025
- Mindfood Daily - October 06, 2025
- Daily American - October 03, 2025
- Evening Standard Easy - September 24, 2025
- Your Life Choices - September 19, 2025
- LA Times - September 16, 2025
- Your Life Choices - July 28, 2025
- Your Life Choices - July 26, 2025
- Daily American - July 14, 2025
- Mindfood Daily - July 14, 2025
- New Zealand Herald - July 13, 2025
- Penny Dell Daily - July 06, 2025
- Daily American - July 04, 2025
- New York Times - June 29, 2025
- Evening Standard Quick - June 20, 2025
- And in 601 more crossword puzzles...