RASP Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

rasp 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rasp

as in scratch

a harsh grating sound the rusted lock opened with a rasp

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rasp

2 of 2

verb

ˈrasp

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to annoy

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts the two siblings seemed intent on rasping each other for the entire car trip

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to wear

to damage or diminish by continued friction during the last ice age, glaciers rasped the surface, leaving the deeply scarred rock

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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

But then Davis meets up with his boss, Money, played by Nick Nolte with an old man’s jagged rasp as dramatic as his wry middle-aged intensity used to be. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026 Kirbi, that rasp is so beautiful at the top of your register. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2025

Verb

When the beetle takes flight, the woman, who is busy unpacking, doesn’t realize for a moment that there’s something out of place about that rasping ruckus, that foreign hum. — María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026 Thrips have rasping, sucking mouthparts. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rasp

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp

Noun

The most recent experiments there had at last demonstrated the viability of a weapon that could wipe out entire enemy populations without leaving a scratch on their infrastructure.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026
One of the standout pieces in Galecki’s room is a yellow chair with visible scratches, rips and worn fabric.

— Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026

Definition of scratch

Verb

And, in turn, the Warriors literally added no one, save for two draft picks, to a depressing roster that scraped together 37 measly wins last year.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 July 2026
All of this makes the album feel more like a mixtape in progress, scraped together from features cut from other people’s projects.

— Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026

Definition of scrape

Verb

Andreu Martínez of Spain humorously said in July 2024 that the use of squirt guns was to annoy the tourists a bit.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026
Hotel-booking platform HotelTonight surveyed 447 of its American adult users in June about what annoys them the most during travel.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 21 July 2026

Definition of annoy

Verb

Hudson was shot in the exchange with deputies but was wearing body armor and sustained minor wounds, said prosecutors.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
Other breathable pieces that French girls wore during Europe’s unprecedented heatwave were boho-style maxis, like this airy Anrabess sundress.

— Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 25 July 2026

Definition of wear

Noun

The durable metal is also rust-resistant, and reviews say that despite its metal frame, creaks and squeaks are minimal.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026
Prairie grasses and bonnet strings whip in the wind as the creak of wagon wheels carries across the rippling grassland.

— Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 22 June 2026

Definition of creak

Verb

Serving in the House until 2024, Stacy was unable to file for reelection because of term limits.

— Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
British model Elsie Hewitt, who dated Phillippe from April to July 2017, filed a civil lawsuit against him in September 2017 alleging domestic violence.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 26 July 2026

Definition of file

Verb

Lift sheets, curtains and cushions to check for bed bugs or signs of bed bugs before settling in.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, a law-enforcement agency known as NABU, had bugged Mindich’s apartment in Kyiv, and detectives picked up his conversations about Fire Point.

— Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026