abrade

verb

ə-ˈbrād How to pronounce abrade (audio)
Definition of abradenext
1
as in to erode
to damage or diminish by continued friction ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers

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2
as in to irritate
to make sore by continued rubbing my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to scrape
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface the yacht's once-flawless wooden hull had been badly abraded by years of rough dockings

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abrade Prior to snapping its selfie, the rover had just finished abrading the rocky Arethusa outcrop. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 May 2026 Diatomaceous earth is an organic compound that kills ants by drying out and abrading their bodies. — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 3 May 2026 Loose-fitting covers can flap in the wind and abrade wicker surfaces. — Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2025 Pockmarks and brittle edges show the abrading action of millennia of wind and rain. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade
  1. erode
  2. irritate
  3. scrape
  4. wear
  5. scratch
  6. fray
Verb
  • The killing drew national outrage and calls for accountability, becoming the latest in a string of incidents that has eroded trust in police in the small town.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Dench was first diagnosed in 2012 with macular degeneration, a retinal disease that erodes one’s central vision and is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over 65.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • These extra vessels increase inflammation and irritate surrounding nerves, making daily movement painful.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The key is knowing what’s likely to irritate your skin during a flare and what may spark an issue day-to-day even when your skin is clear.
    — Kara McGrath, Allure, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • Startup Hamlet has parsed tens of thousands of city council meetings by scraping local governments’ video recordings, tagging comments as friendly or hostile to a potential project.
    — J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Last week, Meta faced backlash after legal experts warned that the tech giant’s sweeping new commercial terms of service seemed to give Meta permission to endlessly scrape websites linked on business pages.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of scrape
Verb
  • Anduril’s technology will focus on equipment worn by the animals, not genetic modifications.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Architect Brent Buck first met Whit Bernard and Freya Zaheer in a cornfield wearing a flannel shirt.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of wear
Verb
  • Starting left tackle Elijah Paige had been scratched in pregame warm-ups at Penn State.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Lee is forever grunting and scratching and clearing his throat.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • In the late ‘80s, the artist returned to CalArts to pursue his master’s degree, and the divide between his two worlds began to fray.
    — Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • During the Lin regime, one source told us that relationships with filmmakers were fraying.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of fray

Browse Nearby Words

abracadabras
abrade
abraded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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