ABRADING Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

abrading 1 of 2

adjective

as in roughening

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Dissimilar Words

abrading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of abrade

as in eroding

to damage or diminish by continued friction ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in irritating

to make sore by continued rubbing my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 abrading

Verb

Prior to snapping its selfie, the rover had just finished abrading the rocky Arethusa outcrop. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 May 2026 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

Adjective

That tiny gesture may explain why secret copying can feel especially irritating.

— Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 17 Sep. 2026
Despite its splashy unveiling, Project Zenith is more about making the OS less irritating for developers than adding any groundbreaking capabilities.

— Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritating

Verb

By the late 1500s, the once vigorous Ming was severely eroding.

— Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
That unease is eroding faith in political leaders and fueling calls for upheaval across the spectrum, from young conservatives to students backing progressive challengers in Michigan.

— Jacqueline Ganun, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of eroding

Verb

Well, then the sound of television writer Joe Wiseman clearing his throat over and over again might as well be Gilbert Gottfried’s laugh scratching against a chalkboard.

— Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
That tale of two vaccines has experts scratching their heads.

— Amanda Erickson, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of scratching

Verb

Around me were fellow guests wearing Fendi headscarves and puffy Prada vests — none yet of the business travellers checking in with expense accounts.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Dozens of protesters, many of them young, dressed in black and wearing masks, threw rocks and firecrackers at police at the central Brussels railway station, before setting several fires, one to a pile of city bikes and electric scooters.

— Mark Carlson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of wearing

Verb

At a time when the social safety net is fraying and affordability is a midterm-election mantra, churches are stepping into the void.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Hegseth’s fraying ties on the Hill put him on course for a bigger headache after the election, according to interviews with a half-dozen senators as well as multiple administration officials.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of fraying

Verb

The bigger claim making the rounds, that a few minutes of face rubbing can quiet your body’s stress response, is where dermatologists urge a little caution.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
In this case, there’s no swiping or rubbing at all—just let the pads sit and soak in for a few minutes before gently patting in the excess.

— Jenny Jin, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of rubbing

Browse Nearby Words

abrades

abrading

abrasion

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Style

“Abrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrading. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of abrading

adjective

verb

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