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 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 Gently dab at the stain until it's gone, taking care not to scrub, as friction can abrade the material and damage the lampshade. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for abrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade
Verb
  • The other is a more nebulous worry that programmable money, by definition, erodes individual autonomy.
    Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
  • There is no question that high tariffs will erode Chinese exporters’ access to the U.S. market.
    Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • These ingredients can irritate the digestive tract, the bladder, or the teeth for people who are sensitive to them.
    Stacey Colino, Time, 1 May 2025
  • Chronic inflammation has been shown to irritate blood vessels and can lead to the hardening of fatty plaques in the lining of the arteries, which reduces blood flow to the heart.
    Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The game would be scraped shortly after it was released, and editors would get busy trying to figure out how those pieces fit together.
    Daniel Larlham, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
  • Besides her grief and anger, Cora is broke, insecure, living with a religious aunt and working as a crime scene cleaner, scraping away human remains for money.
    Gabino Iglesias, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Famously, stage and film star Sir Sean Connery openly discussed wearing a headpiece in all of his James Bond roles.
    Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Chrissy was a classy birthday girl, wearing a beige corset-style skirt and top with a matching trench coat and sunglasses.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The field for the 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby was reduced to 19 by Friday after two horses were scratched with potential complications, including one colt trained by legendary trainer Bob Baffert.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
  • On Friday morning, Grande, who was initially given the No. 10 post with those odds, was scratched from the Derby because of a foot bruise, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.
    Alex Sundby, CBS News, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • This luggage has one job: hold your goods, and cope with scuff marks and fraying material with grace.
    Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 1 May 2025
  • The Europeans of Zweig’s youth did not grasp the fragility of their world, with its growing domestic tensions and fraying international order.
    Margaret MacMillan, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

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