ABRADE Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

abrade

verb

ə-ˈbrād

Definition of abrade

as in to erode

to damage or diminish by continued friction ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to irritate

to make sore by continued rubbing my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Each time clothes rub against each other in the washer, the friction abrades the fibers slightly causing the surface to look dull. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025 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 For example, the prior version’s straps abraded the skin around his knee, but redistributing the weight through abdominal and thigh straps fixed the problem. — Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 15 July 2015 See All Example Sentences for abrade

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade

Verb

But Koppl traced a distinctly American lineage through a chain of precedents dating back more than 50 years, each one further eroding the market discipline that profit-and-loss accountability is supposed to provide.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of erode

Verb

Avoid potentially irritating actives Immediately after shaving is not the time to reach for your strongest skin-care products.

— Emma-Jade Stoddart, Glamour, 5 July 2026
While some of my linen pieces feel scratchy, this one is ultra soft and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin.

— Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Definition of irritate

Verb

When a user asked boat-botany why New Reddit isn’t scraped as often as Old Reddit, the Reddit employee pointed to a comment by another user.

— Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026
Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with ⅓ cup sour cream in 2 additions (about 2½ tablespoons each), scraping down bowl as needed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026

Definition of scrape

Verb

But on Wednesday, the day after Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 to secure its fourth consecutive World Cup victory, the fan and his wife, Angélica Arias, walked to the plaza wearing two identical caps.

— Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
And even though Georgia law does not require this, all cyclists and scooterists should wear helmets.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of wear

Verb

Some scratches early in this past season led to reports of Mintyukov requesting a trade, but the smooth-skating blueliner improved his play and settled in on Anaheim’s second defense pairing.

— Eric Stephens, New York Times, 5 July 2026
In a game not known for high scores, the pace of goals in this World Cup has left some fans scratching their heads.

— Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026

Definition of scratch

Verb

Now, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton present a stark choice to voters in the race to be the next governor at a moment when public support for the state’s generous safety net is starting to fray.

— Christine Mai-Duc, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
The same fear of a fraying dollar system is driving Russia and others toward bitcoin and pushing Wall Street to treat which reserve asset wins as a live question.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Definition of fray

Browse Nearby Words

abracadabras

abrade

abraded

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Style

“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of abrade

verb

Example Sentences

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