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 After the fall of Hosni Mubarak, ordinary Egyptians brought paint cans from home to Tahrir Square, to re-mark the curbs that had been flaked from years of government neglect, and abraded by tanks and flying bricks during the protests. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for abrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade
Verb
  • Opaque brokerage fees can erode returns, while fraud is a constant risk.
    Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • Critics warned that such measures could erode due process rights and destabilize the legal status of millions of permanent residents.
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Spicy foods: Spicy foods may irritate the stomach and intestines, which could worsen or extend food poisoning symptoms.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 21 June 2025
  • This will irritate them and also decrease their likelihood of returning.
    Bartosz Skwarczek, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Beat eggs, sugar, espresso granules, and vanilla with a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on high speed until thick and fluffy, 8 to 10 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, emerging managers are scraping to survive and define their edge.
    Alex Lazarow, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • He was last seen wearing blue headphones, a blue surgical mask, a black North Face jacket, light-wash camo pants and gray sneakers.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 28 June 2025
  • There are a few family members who only wear olive, mustard, khaki, black and other dull colors; clunky, unattractive shoes; and few accessories.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Avoid using abrasive cleaners, like scouring pads or steel wool, as these can scratch the surface.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 23 June 2025
  • This can include scratching granular fertilizer into the soil around the base of your plants, watering with compost tea or fish emulsion, or top dressing with a fresh layer of compost—just be sure to pay attention to the specific needs of the different plants in your garden.
    Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • The series focuses on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s love story, which started as a beautiful union for the young couple, widely regarded as American royalty, began to fray under the stress of the relentless microscope and navel-gaze of tabloid media.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2025
  • Without recognition, your self-narrative begins to fray.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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