abrading 1 of 2

adjective

as in roughening

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

abrading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of abrade
1
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
2
as in irritating
to make sore by continued rubbing my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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
  1. irritating
  2. eroding
  3. scratching
  4. scraping
  5. wearing
  6. fraying
  7. rubbing
Adjective
  • Like nails on a chalkboard, whining—an irritating blend of talking and crying—has the ability to make almost any parent either lose their temper or cave.
    — Debby Waldman, Parents, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, this is where our motivations become personal and perhaps even slightly irritating, especially if repressed emotions or sensitivities rise to the surface.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritating
Verb
  • But the distinction is eroding, as private defense contractors help merge domestic law enforcement, immigration, and national security into an interlocking apparatus.
    — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In the 1970s, New York City enacted a zoning regulation targeted at protecting the fast-eroding industrial base.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of eroding
Verb
  • The poor offensive production spoiled a night when the Angels got good enough pitching, despite scratching Soriano.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Los Angeles Angels, by contrast, took a different approach on Saturday by scratching starter José Soriano.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratching
Verb
  • Crawshaw’s punts so far this offseason have been things of sky-scraping beauty.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • Smith remembers eating Spam three times a day while his father worked odd jobs, including driving a taxi, before eventually scraping together enough money to launch a mail-order hosiery business.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of scraping
Verb
  • The warning was to never wash her hands while wearing the ring, because the eye could wash away.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • During the video, a person wearing a gorilla suit walked directly through the scene, stopped, beat their chest, and walked away.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of wearing
Verb
  • The accusations only make Winifred, who has secretly been dealing with a rapidly fraying psyche, more paranoid, leading to bloody and dangerous consequences.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 30 July 2026
  • Nanfelt said some have misread any concern of unexpected decisions this year as pointing to a fraying relationship between city leadership and the business community.
    — DJ Simmons July 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026
Definition of fraying
Verb
  • Coat the exterior of the pork with 2 teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice, rubbing it into the meat.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Avoid rubbing, as this can push the stain deeper into the material.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of rubbing

Browse Nearby Words

abrades
abrading
abrasion
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrading. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on abrading

Nglish: Translation of abrading for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All