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
  • Yes, the minerals in hard water stains can eventually erode the metal fixtures and scratch the glass and tiles.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
  • But the collisions were brutal, eroding Means’ game in short time.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Use your hands: Since washcloths and sponges can irritate the skin, apply cleansers using your fingers, moving then over the skin in a circular motion.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025
  • Aggressive or improper neck manipulation can irritate or compress nerves in your cervical spine, causing pain, numbness, muscle weakness, or tingling that radiates into your shoulders, arms, or hands.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • The links with current Saudi champions Al Hilal are genuine, and that should be the real concern for everyone at Old Trafford — not whether Fernandes is overrated, underrated or secretly wants to scrape his studs down Keane’s shins.
    Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Video footage on social media shows the ship — flying a huge Mexican flag — scraping the underside and its masts collapsing onto the deck.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • For me, that means flying out of and into the same airports, using the same airline, sitting in the same seat number on both flights, and wearing my favorite travel pants: the G4Free Wide-leg Pants.
    Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025
  • Cannon wears her children on her sleeve — literally.
    Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Names scratched into the rusty walls are a bad sign.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
  • When allergies affect feline skin, symptoms include scratching at their face and ears, scabs on their skin and fur loss.
    Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Uproar over certain policies and uncertainty surrounding which leader to rally behind have also frayed internal cohesion.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
  • The two artists collaborated on numerous projects over the years, but their friendship began to fray after West, 47, voiced support for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 11 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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