abrades

verb

present tense third-person singular of abrade
1
as in erodes
to damage or diminish by continued friction ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers

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2
as in irritates
to make sore by continued rubbing my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in scrapes
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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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 abrades Each time clothes rub against each other in the washer, the friction abrades the fibers slightly causing the surface to look dull. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrades
  1. erodes
  2. irritates
  3. scrapes
  4. wears
  5. scratches
  6. frays
Verb
  • Without that know-how, the investment sits idle and erodes unseen.
    — Kerry Huang, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • As the heat dome erodes over the course of this week, the upper atmosphere begins to level out.
    — Sean Macaday July 6, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of erodes
Verb
  • The capsaicin in hot peppers irritates pests and deters them from feeding on plants.
    — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026
  • Anyone who has sat through a mandatory team-building exercise knows the difference between a ritual that binds and a program that irritates.
    — Julia Dhar, Time, 11 July 2026
Definition of irritates
Verb
  • The tool scrapes third-party sources to compile additional information and context about individual tracks.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
  • Her older brother, 9-year-old Charlie, climbs across the nearby jungle gym at a Prairie Village playground as her younger brother, 3-year-old Will, scrapes a stick through the mulch.
    — Anna Spoerre, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
Definition of scrapes
Verb
  • In the image, Camilla wears a bright blue dress and a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch, which was presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • The custodian of this jewel is Amrit Maan, the fourth-generation owner of The Punjab and a man who wears more hats than any one human should reasonably be expected to.
    — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of wears
Verb
  • Some scratches early in this past season led to reports of Mintyukov requesting a trade, but the smooth-skating blueliner improved his play and settled in on Anaheim’s second defense pairing.
    — Eric Stephens, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Food particles and microorganisms can become trapped in the nicks, grooves, and scratches on the board.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 28 June 2026
Definition of scratches
Verb
  • Conjuring the troubled inner life of a young, successful Buenos Aires fashion designer with an uncommon mix of stylistic rigor and feeling, the film frays your nerves.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
  • The coalition of supporters frays Still another issue is conflict within the legalization movement itself, particularly between the business and activist wings.
    — William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of frays

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Cite this Entry

“Abrades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrades. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on abrades

Nglish: Translation of abrades for Spanish Speakers

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