abrade

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verb

Definition of ABRADE

1

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

Synonyms chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, rasp, rub, wear

Related Words file, gnaw, grate, graze, grind, nibble, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scuff, shave; erase, reduce, rub out, wear out, wipe (away); bite, break down, break up, chew, corrode, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, eat; hone, sharpen, whet

2

to make sore by continued rubbing <the prisoner's manacles abraded his wrists and ankles until they bled>

Synonyms abrade, excoriate, fret, gall, irritate

Related Words graze, scrape, scratch; burn, inflame (also enflame); flay, peel, skin

3

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 abrade, graze, scratch, scuff

Related Words bark, skin; chafe, fret, gall; claw, cut, lacerate; bruise, contuse

Near Antonyms polish, smooth, soften, wax