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 The cinematography, by Christopher Messina, feels as abraded as Linda’s psyche. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2025 If used, stakes should not abrade or constrict the trunk and should be fully removed after six to twelve months. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for abrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade
Verb
  • Now, this fundamental principle is at risk of being eroded.
    Philippa Pham Hughes, Time, 11 July 2025
  • Deals like these, which require OpenAI to sell stakes in the company, erode the nonprofit’s control of the business.
    Orson Aguilar, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Jake Paul’s everyday unscented face wash avoids irritating fragrances but is infused with vitamin B3 to help keep your skin hydrated.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
  • Work exposures: If you are frequently exposed to irritating chemicals or substances, your risk of dermatitis is higher.
    Carrie Madormo, Health, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • National Weather Service radar is indicated that squall bands are starting to scrape the Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida coastlines.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
  • Avoid using any type of metal tool or spatula to scrape the surface.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • The deceased woman was also wearing a black necklace with a cross that family said belonged to DiNapoli, according to court documents.
    Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
  • More specifically, Middleton often wears two silhouettes: Superga 2750 Cotu Classics (usually $75, now as little as $35) and Veja Esplars (usually $150, now $128).
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Independence Day While the rest of the films on this list surely make sense, some might be scratching their heads on why a sci-fi film is considered to be one of the greatest Fourth of July films ever made.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
  • He was scratched from a game in early May after experiencing soreness on his left side but started three days later.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • This idea began to fray when early robot AI failed to handle messy, real-world conditions.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 June 2025
  • As his confidence begins to fray, and as his smoothly speeding vehicle starts to seem like more and more of a prison, the film becomes almost heart-stoppingly suspenseful.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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