sandpaper

1 of 2

noun

sand·​pa·​per ˈsan(d)-ˌpā-pər How to pronounce sandpaper (audio)
: paper covered on one side with abrasive material (such as sand) glued fast and used for smoothing and polishing
sandpapery adjective

sandpaper

2 of 2

verb

sandpapered; sandpapering; sandpapers

transitive verb

: to rub with or as if with sandpaper

Examples of sandpaper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Lyons talks about a wearing that happens like sandpaper rubbing against wood, a slow chipping away of self-worth. Byjenny Abamu, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 Your mouth feels like sandpaper and your head is pounding. Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2024 Prep the dresser by sanding it with 220-grit sandpaper for optimal adhesion. Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2024 The only mark against them was how poorly the fabric performed in our abrasion test: After swiping the sheets with sandpaper just 25 times, the material easily sprouted holes. Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Jan. 2024 Starving except for a few dates, they were exposed to windblown sands that scraped them like sandpaper, a relentless sun that burned and blistered their faces, and swarms of flies that enveloped and tormented them. Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2024 The soft fabric never feels like sandpaper, which is a must for those with sensitive skin. Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2024 Cons: Prone to stains and scratches, requires maintenance with a light sandpaper and oiling. Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2024 But the sandpaper trick picked out nanoscale particles of each of the three. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Jan. 2024
Verb
Among them – 3M, a giant company that has manufactured everything from masking tape to sandpaper to a synthetic rubber used in space boots. Johanna Mayer, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024 Keep in Mind The upkeep may seem a bit tedious at times with handwashing and applying mineral oil and sandpapering the surface. Kristen (kj) Callihan, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2023 Once the putty is completely dry, use a sanding block or sandpaper to create a flat and smooth surface. Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 28 June 2023 Both Lowe's and HGTV recommend a scoring tool or sandpaper to perforate the paper slightly so the water solution has easier access to the adhesive. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 24 May 2023 Unlike Billie or Lana or Ariana, all of whom are sandpapering their aesthetics down to the micron, Lizzo is full of surprise, and hopefully will remain that way. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sandpaper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1755, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sandpaper was in 1755

Dictionary Entries Near sandpaper

Cite this Entry

“Sandpaper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sandpaper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sandpaper

1 of 2 noun
sand·​pa·​per -ˌpā-pər How to pronounce sandpaper (audio)
: paper with rough material (as sand) glued on one side and used for smoothing and polishing

sandpaper

2 of 2 verb
: to rub with or as if with sandpaper
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!