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
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Example Sentences
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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.
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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
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
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The other is a more nebulous worry that programmable money, by definition, erodes individual autonomy.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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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
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Pairing some active ingredients can irritate the skin, and other combinations may reduce the effectiveness of the ingredients.1 1.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
18 Apr. 2025
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This can be particularly irritating to eczema-prone skin.—
Sierra Leone Starks,
Allure,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If another caterpillar wanders into their territory, these tiny critters start furiously drumming their heads, shaking their bodies and scraping their butts against the leaf—a series of complex vibratory behaviors to signal that their leaf tip is off-limits.—
Rohini Subrahmanyam,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2025
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Sifting and scraping toxic particles would only further the ongoing coastal erosion, which is its own climate change impact.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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Inter won a free kick in the first minute of the second half — and Chivu, who wore a sporadically unclasped rugby scrum cap during the game, blasted it wide from 40 yards out, emphasising their total disinterest in mounting any meaningful attack.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But the contradiction was apparent for anyone willing to scratch the surface: the three public suspensions and one defection from the Pentagon’s top ranks were all, until very recently, Hegseth loyalists.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
22 Apr. 2025
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The surface of a cat tree is usually covered in a textured, carpet-like material for scratching.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His shirt collar is frayed, and there’s a hole in the right elbow of his sweater.—
Domenico Starnone,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
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Burnout frayed Patton’s love for sourcing and selling coffee.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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