The antonyms for the phrase "rubs in" would be "eases," "soothes," "softens," "lightens," "relaxes," "alleviates," "makes less hurtful," and "lessens the severity." Where rubbing in a point may cause hurt, the antonyms connote feelings of calmness and relaxation. "Eases" describes the lessening of stress or pressure, while "soothes" gives a feeling of calmness. "Alleviates" notes the reduction of suffering, and "lessens the severity" suggests a decrease in the strength of something. These antonyms are useful in situations where a harsh delivery of information is not recommended, and there's a need for lighter or gentler reasoning.