abrade

verb

ə-ˈbrād 

abraded; abrading

transitive verb

1

a

: to rub or wear away especially by friction : erode

b

: to irritate or roughen by rubbing

2

: to wear down in spirit : irritate, weary

intransitive verb

: to undergo abrasion

abradable

ə-ˈbrā-də-bəl 

adjective

abrader noun

Synonyms

• chafe
• corrade
• erode
• fray
• frazzle
• fret
• gall
• rasp
• rub
• wear

Examples of abrade in a Sentence

ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers

the prisoner's manacles abraded his wrists and ankles until they bled

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s said to cause people to become irritable, aggravate health problems, and abrade mechanical devices. —Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

Toshiba and Hitachi have designed robots that use jets of high-pressure water and dry ice to abrade the surfaces of walls and floors; the robots will scour away radioactive materials along with top layers of paint or concrete and vacuum up the resulting sludge. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Feb. 2014

The cinematography, by Christopher Messina, feels as abraded as Linda’s psyche. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2025

If used, stakes should not abrade or constrict the trunk and should be fully removed after six to twelve months. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin abrādere "to remove by rubbing, scrape off," from ab- ab- + rādere "to scrape" — more at rase

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for abrade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

abrade

verb

ə-ˈbrād 

abraded; abrading

1

: to rub or wear away especially by friction

2

: to irritate or roughen by rubbing

abrader noun

Medical Definition

abrade

transitive verb

ə-ˈbrād 

abraded; abrading

: to irritate or roughen by rubbing : chafe