abrading 1 of 2

adjective

as in roughening

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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

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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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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
  • Mature skin should be treated with a mild, non-irritating cleanser that won’t strip the skin of its natural oils or irritate dry and sensitive types.
    — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The cold temperature will slow down the enzymes and ease the irritating effects.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritating
Verb
  • Over the same time, shooting of Americans by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers began to dominate headlines, eroding support for one of the president's major policy initiatives.
    — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • This stuck ice preserves what’s beneath instead of eroding it.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of eroding
Verb
  • Lee is forever grunting and scratching and clearing his throat.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • People are advised to watch for signs of rodent activity including droppings, gnaw marks, scratching or scurrying sounds and rub marks along baseboards or around entry points.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado Updated October 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of scratching
Verb
  • Cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping once or twice.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Thunder were scraping the rotational barrel hard enough on Monday against the Phoenix Suns that rookie two-way Josh Dix played 10 straight minutes in the second half.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of scraping
Verb
  • Speaking from experience, the right footwear can transform an uncomfortable ensemble into something actually functional, warm, and totally worth wearing.
    — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Moore, who stood 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighed 140 pounds, was last seen on security camera footage inside the Aisle 1 store, wearing a long-sleeve green polo shirt and black shorts.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of wearing
Verb
  • The murder of two Israeli soldiers in the West Bank is the jumping-off point for a large-scale invasion of the Palestinian territory, a move that would further test the nation’s fraying relationship with the United States.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
  • During the Lin regime, one source told us that relationships with filmmakers were fraying.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of fraying
Verb
  • Oh, and a pad from an HTC Vive, because nobody wants the sharp edges of layered plastic extruded from a 3D printer rubbing against their face.
    — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Some of the more envelope-pushing moments, including an extended scene of nuns ripping off their habits and rubbing themselves on a life-sized crucifix, were in the script.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of rubbing

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abrades
abrading
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Cite this Entry

“Abrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrading. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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