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Definitions

waxing

[wak-sing] / ˈwæk sɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
enlarging
Synonyms
WEAK
increscent
Antonyms
WEAK
shrinking
ADJECTIVE
growing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
burgeoning developing expanding flourishing spreading thriving viable
STRONG
amplifying animate augmenting budding crescent dilating enlarging fructifying germinating living maturing mushrooming pullulating sprouting stretching swelling
WEAK
crescive
Antonyms
STRONGEST
failing languishing
STRONG
dead dying shrinking
WEAK
lessening withering
ADJECTIVE
increasing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
developing expanding growing rising
STRONG
accumulating augmenting booming broadening enlarging flourishing maturing multiplying proliferating snowballing sprouting swelling widening
WEAK
getting big piling up
NOUN
defeat
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beating blow breakdown collapse debacle destruction drubbing embarrassment failure killing loss massacre rout setback thrashing triumph
STRONG
KO ambush annihilation break check conquest count discomfiture extermination fall lacing licking mastery paddling rebuff repulse reverse ruin scalping shellacking slaughter subjugation trap trashing trimming trouncing whaling whipping whitewashing
WEAK
defeasance downthrow insuccess nonsuccess vanquishment
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accomplishment achievement boon success win
STRONG
surrender yielding
WEAK
attainment mastery victory
NOUN
growth
Synonyms
STRONGEST
advance advancement expansion gain hike improvement increase production prosperity rise success surge
STRONG
aggrandizement augmentation boost buildup crop cultivation enlargement evolution extension flowering germination maturation multiplication produce proliferation sprouting stretching swell thickening unfolding vegetation widening
WEAK
beefing up evolvement fleshing out heightening maturing up upping
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decline decrease failure halt loss stagnation stop worsening
STRONG
abridgment compression destruction reduction
WEAK
abatement diminishment lessening underdevelopment
NOUN
increase
Synonyms
STRONGEST
boost development escalation expansion gain hike increment inflation merger raise rise surge upsurge upturn
STRONG
access accession accretion accrual accumulation aggrandizement augmentation breakthrough burgeoning cumulation elaboration enlargement exaggeration extension incorporation intensification markup maximization multiplication optimization spread step-up swell swelling upgrade
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decline decrease drop loss shrinkage
STRONG
abridgment compression reduction
WEAK
depletion diminishment subtraction
NOUN
licking
Synonyms
STRONGEST
whipping
STRONG
KO ambush annihilation beating blow break breakdown check collapse conquest count debacle destruction discomfiture drubbing embarrassment extermination failure fall killing lacing loss massacre mastery overthrow paddling rebuff repulse reverse rout ruin scalping setback shellacking slaughter subjugation thrashing trap trashing trimming triumph trouncing whaling whitewashing
WEAK
defeasance downthrow insuccess nonsuccess vanquishment
Antonyms
STRONG
accomplishment achievement boon building construction creation forfeit good fortune loss rise success surrender victory win yielding
NOUN
rise
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acceleration advance ascent boost climb growth hike increment inflation progress surge upsurge upswing upturn
STRONG
accession accretion addition advancement aggrandizement augmentation breakthrough distention doubling enlargement heightening intensification intensifying markup multiplication promotion raise step-up swell upgrade
WEAK
piling up stacking up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decline decrease failure hindrance stagnation
STRONG
deduction lessening reduction shrinkage subtraction
WEAK
drop fall slump worsening
NOUN
rout
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beating debacle disaster drubbing embarrassment romp shutout thrashing whipping
STRONG
clobbering comedown confusion flight hiding overthrow retreat ruin shambles trashing upset walkover washout
WEAK
vanquishment
Antonyms
STRONGEST
miracle triumph win wonder
STRONG
calm order organization
NOUN
thrashing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annihilation beating conquest debacle drubbing rout trouncing whipping
STRONG
KO ambush blow break breakdown check collapse count destruction discomfiture embarrassment extermination failure fall killing lacing licking loss massacre mastery overthrow paddling rebuff repulse reverse ruin scalping setback shellacking slaughter subjugation trap trashing trimming triumph whaling whitewashing
WEAK
defeasance downthrow insuccess nonsuccess vanquishment
Antonyms
STRONG
accomplishment achievement building construction creation good fortune rise success win
NOUN
vanquishment
Synonyms
WEAK
KO ambush annihilation beating blow break breakdown check collapse conquest count debacle defeasance destruction discomfiture downthrow drubbing embarrassment extermination failure fall insuccess killing lacing licking loss massacre mastery nonsuccess overthrow paddling rebuff repulse reverse rout ruin scalping setback shellacking slaughter subjugation thrashing trap trashing trimming triumph trouncing whaling whipping whitewashing
NOUN
waterloo
Synonyms
STRONG
annihilation beating collapse conquest drubbing failure fall licking massacre overthrow rout slaughter thrashing trouncing whipping
WEAK
crushing defeat shellacking trashing vanquishment whitewashing
Antonyms
STRONG
rise success win

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When donors pooled around $750,000 to upgrade the waxing, the team welcomed Yolanda, a custom-built lorry with eight work stations, binders of waxing data, more than 600 skis and a snack table filled with cheese.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

“Fed leaders would be well served to skip opportunities to share their latest musings. The swivel-chair problem, rhetorically waxing and waning with the latest data release, is common and counterproductive,” Warsh said last April.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 3, 2026

As heartfelt as that night’s musicians were in their speeches, bartender Dan Shapiro said waxing sentimental onstage has been the norm for weeks.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2025

A first goal in senior football, it was a moment that swung momentum and had former Rangers wide men waxing lyrical.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2025

Haynes was waxing rhetorical—the critics don’t want to jettison everything from the past.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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