as in roughening
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1
as in eroding
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 irritating
to make sore by continued rubbing
my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered
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3
as in scraping
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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Recent Examples of abrading
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Verb
Pockmarks and brittle edges show the abrading action of millennia of wind and rain.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrading
Verb
-
In the medium term, customers will use their own agents to shop rates and switch providers, eroding the inertia that has long protected incumbent relationships.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
Back when the general plan was created in 2004, there wasn’t even any mention of climate resilience — the effects of sea level rise and eroding beaches had not yet taken hold.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Strong gusts of wind disperse the pollen and mold, irritating lungs.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
30 Apr. 2026
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Joining Stuart’s quest are his girlfriend, Denise (Lapkus); geologist buddy Bert (Posehn); and irritating quantum physicist Barry Kripke (Bowie).—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Pour hot milk mixture over batter, scraping pan clean with spatula, and mix with beater on low speed until incorporated and batter is smooth, about 1 minute.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Blend until smooth, scraping down sides as needed.—
Maddy Bendgen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mira arrived with her friends, wearing the pink dress and a pair of Air Force 1s.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Graham kept the rest of the styling pared down, wearing soft waves, hoop earrings and carrying a small metallic clutch.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 May 2026
Verb
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They’re specifically designed for glass cooktop surfaces and have two sides—a gritty, sandpaper-like one on one side and a soft sponge on the other that gently scrub off stubborn messes and stuck-on bits without scratching or damaging the glass.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
The guy who went overseas to play, and then coach basketball, couldn’t even nab a Division III coaching gig before scratching and clawing his way into the NBA.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The mayor’s veto eliminated a measure to reduce public hostility at a time of toxic divisions fraying the city.—
Andrew Cuomo,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
Petrodollar takes the spotlight The OPEC exit lands on top of a petrodollar system that was already fraying at its edges.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Harvest quinoa by hitting the flower stalks against a hard surface or rubbing them between your hands to separate the seeds from the flower parts or chaff.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
-
An employee washed hands for less than 10 seconds at the sushi bar, and the inspector wants to see 10-15 seconds of your hands rubbing each other.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrading. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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