rasp 1 of 2

Definition of raspnext
as in scratch
a harsh grating sound the rusted lock opened with a rasp

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rasp

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction after sawing the board in half, rasp the ends to remove any splinters

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2
as in to scratch
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the sound of fingernails rasping on the blackboard makes me cringe

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3
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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 rasp
Noun
Kirbi, that rasp is so beautiful at the top of your register. Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2025 Her strong, confident country voice shone through immediately in her performance of this Judds song, with just enough rasp to really give it some edge. Andy Swift, TVLine, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
Sea lampreys are parasites, feeding by attaching to fish with their suction mouth, using their tongue to rasp a hole through the fish's skin, and consuming the blood and juices that flow out. Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 15 Dec. 2025 She’s preoccupied though, training a gun on the facility’s head officer, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), whose RFK Jr. rasp and licentious focus on Perfidia sets him up as a comedic draw and a convincing picture of America’s sanctioned white violence. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp
Noun
  • The most horrifying fact Garcia shared was that a wound as tiny as a tick bite or a scratch can attract a female screwfly to lay her eggs.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
  • In other words, the drug may not create the problem from scratch so much as unmask or worsen one that was already simmering.
    Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • To rub salt into the wounds of longtime fans, MLB agreed to waive its $300 million relocation fee.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
  • To season uncoated grates, rub them with a thin layer of oil and wipe away any excess.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed.
    Judy Bart Kancigor, Oc Register, 11 June 2026
  • The valuable elements instantly gather onto a collection surface, allowing researchers to scrape them off.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • One of the more common ways bear encounters escalate is when an off-leash dog runs toward a bear, annoys it, and then comes sprinting back to its owner with an angry predator in pursuit.
    Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
  • And get annoyed when people spell it wrong anyway?
    Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • Trudeau embraced the Southern California vibes and wore a green T-shirt with black shorts and a pair of dark sunglasses.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
  • When a group of six fans wearing white t-shirts with the pre-revolution flag emblazoned on the fronts tried to enter, they were stopped by a security staffer, who called over her supervisor.
    Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Iwerks worked with Bonnie Wild, a sound mixer whose credits include multiple Marvel and Star Wars projects, to piece together all of the sound from scratch — every creak of metal, every footstep and hammer, and every tractor driving across concrete.
    Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026
  • Mr Cobra opens like a dark, cobwebbed staircase leading into a vast and foreboding space, all frantic flute and piano, creaks, and bone-chilling screeches (not to mention a slutty monologue seemingly communicated via Google Translate).
    Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The board during Thursday's meeting also voted to file Friday's emergency appeal to stay that earlier ruling.
    Emma Nicholson, CBS News, 15 June 2026
  • Democratic states, including California, have fought back by filing lawsuits against federal agencies over certain policies and actions affecting governments programs such as SNAP.
    Lizzie Kane June 14, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
    Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
  • His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasp. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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