sandpaper

1 of 2

noun

sand·​pa·​per ˈsan(d)-ˌpā-pər How to pronounce sandpaper (audio)
: paper covered on one side with abrasive material (such as sand) glued fast and used for smoothing and polishing
sandpapery adjective

sandpaper

2 of 2

verb

sandpapered; sandpapering; sandpapers

transitive verb

: to rub with or as if with sandpaper

Examples of sandpaper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Dirt and grime act almost like sandpaper to break down and fray carpet fibers. Laura Daily, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023 Their personalities were fundamentally unalike, in ways that could scratch like sandpaper. Holland Cotter, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023 Five hours and 20 sheets of 60-grit sandpaper later, the base of the deck was sanded (thanks, Dad!). Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2023 The rugged, 6-foot-3-inch forward figured his sandpaper style fit the grinding game Boston likes to play. Mark Shanahan, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Apr. 2023 Baskets contain tape, rollers, and sandpaper, while binder clips keep gardening gloves together and easy to hang from hooks. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2023 Prepare them by sanding in the direction of the wood grain with 100-grit sandpaper. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023 Smoothing planes scrape away excess wood and leave you with a nice finish without the harshness of sandpaper. Anabelle Weissinger, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2023 After your primer is fully dry, Hathaway recommends using 220-grit sandpaper to smooth any imperfections. L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2023
Verb
Keep in Mind The upkeep may seem a bit tedious at times with handwashing and applying mineral oil and sandpapering the surface. Kristen (kj) Callihan, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2023 Once the putty is completely dry, use a sanding block or sandpaper to create a flat and smooth surface. Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 28 June 2023 Both Lowe's and HGTV recommend a scoring tool or sandpaper to perforate the paper slightly so the water solution has easier access to the adhesive. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 24 May 2023 Unlike Billie or Lana or Ariana, all of whom are sandpapering their aesthetics down to the micron, Lizzo is full of surprise, and hopefully will remain that way. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sandpaper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1755, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sandpaper was in 1755

Dictionary Entries Near sandpaper

Cite this Entry

“Sandpaper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sandpaper. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

sandpaper

1 of 2 noun
sand·​pa·​per -ˌpā-pər How to pronounce sandpaper (audio)
: paper with rough material (as sand) glued on one side and used for smoothing and polishing

sandpaper

2 of 2 verb
: to rub with or as if with sandpaper
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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