1
as in to erode
to damage or diminish by continued friction
ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers
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2
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
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Recent Examples of abrade
My shoes abrade my feet and my shirt is stuck to my back.
—
Ariel Saramandi, The Dial, 29 July 2025
Compared to its predecessors, Perseverance uses an advanced abrading bit and gaseous Dust Removal Tool, or gDRT, which applies five puffs of nitrogen to clear samples in a way that poses less risk of contamination.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 30 June 2025
It’s said to cause people to become irritable, aggravate health problems, and abrade mechanical devices.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
The cinematography, by Christopher Messina, feels as abraded as Linda’s psyche.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrade
Ariel Saramandi, The Dial, 29 July 2025
Compared to its predecessors, Perseverance uses an advanced abrading bit and gaseous Dust Removal Tool, or gDRT, which applies five puffs of nitrogen to clear samples in a way that poses less risk of contamination.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 30 June 2025
It’s said to cause people to become irritable, aggravate health problems, and abrade mechanical devices.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
The cinematography, by Christopher Messina, feels as abraded as Linda’s psyche.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade
Verb
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Erosion threatens land, heritage, and infrastructure The Holderness coastline has long been recognised as one of Europe’s most rapidly eroding coastal regions.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
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Public trust in the justice system is eroded when political cronyism is rewarded over fairness, when accountability is resisted, and when devastating errors are defended instead of confronted.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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These changes to the fabric’s texture can also irritate delicate skin.—
Elizabeth Brownfield,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
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To ensure the materials were safe for biological use, the friction layers was tested on a rabbit’s eye, where the device maintained its charge without irritating.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There are 617 McDonald's restaurants in Ohio, according to the web scraping tool ScrapeHero.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Jan. 2026
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Use a fork to scrape out strands of squash and transfer them to a large bowl.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meyer, meanwhile, wore a white graphic tee with black mini shorts and a Thom Browne top coat, W reported.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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He was last seen wearing a red and black plaid shirt, dark jeans and brown steel-toe boots, police said.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If large stuck-on food chunks remain, carefully scrape them off with a razor blade, being mindful not to scratch the stovetop.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
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Bright and spellbinding, glittering and dangerous, London Falling scratches every itch while unwinding this morbid mystery.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Too many exceptions to the rules and the narrative thread begins to fray around the edges.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
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These factors are compounded by the grim shape of downtown’s streets and sidewalks, continuing struggles with homelessness, the fraying DART partnership and an alarming commercial vacancy rate.—
Mark Lamster
Architecture Critic,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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