1
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

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 After the fall of Hosni Mubarak, ordinary Egyptians brought paint cans from home to Tahrir Square, to re-mark the curbs that had been flaked from years of government neglect, and abraded by tanks and flying bricks during the protests. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024 For example, stone washing, which uses pumice stones and water to physically abrade the indigo dyestuff from the fabric surface, can be replaced by enzyme washing in low-liquid ratio machines. Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 5 Dec. 2024 In response to the downstream concerns about the prevention and control of lyocell fibrillation—the fiber separation in yarn that can occur when textiles are wet and abraded, which can cause pilling—Sateri provides three cross-linking solutions that are formaldehyde-free and easy to operate. Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 27 Sep. 2024 It’s believed this phenomenon is thanks to the fast flow of the water that abrades the rocky coast, dislodging more minerals into the ocean. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 27 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for abrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade
Verb
  • Chatterjee notes that this is a brand with strong retention but declining acquisition potential due to eroding external perception.
    Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Many of his directives this term have closely mirrored Project 2025, a conservative policy agenda that explicitly prioritizes eroding LGBTQ rights.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Jake Paul’s everyday unscented face wash avoids irritating fragrances but is infused with vitamin B3 to help keep your skin hydrated.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
  • Work exposures: If you are frequently exposed to irritating chemicals or substances, your risk of dermatitis is higher.
    Carrie Madormo, Health, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • National Weather Service radar is indicated that squall bands are starting to scrape the Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida coastlines.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
  • Avoid using any type of metal tool or spatula to scrape the surface.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • There are a few family members who only wear olive, mustard, khaki, black and other dull colors; clunky, unattractive shoes; and few accessories.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
  • He was last seen wearing blue headphones, a blue surgical mask, a black North Face jacket, light-wash camo pants and gray sneakers.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • He was scratched from a game in early May after experiencing soreness on his left side but started three days later.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 July 2025
  • Be careful when using this method as wire hangers can sometimes scratch the porcelain.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • This idea began to fray when early robot AI failed to handle messy, real-world conditions.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 June 2025
  • As his confidence begins to fray, and as his smoothly speeding vehicle starts to seem like more and more of a prison, the film becomes almost heart-stoppingly suspenseful.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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