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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

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

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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
  • Both can get the job done, but chemical exfoliants may be too irritating for those with sensitive skin or excessively dry scalps.
    — Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 14 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
  • The same channels that connected people and lifted small businesses were also fueling disinformation, eroding trust and democratic debate, and weighing on teenagers’ mental health.
    — Quentin Bordage, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Communities have seen waves pound the coastline, eroding the shore and putting homes and infrastructure at risk.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of eroding
Verb
  • This characteristic can provide significant resistance to scratching and wear in demanding environments.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The waffle-weave construction provides superior cleaning and drying without scratching, complemented by brilliant, beautiful designs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of scratching
Verb
  • Although most of the Mauritanian men came alone, Sy had sold his land and cars, scraping together $20,000 to bring his wife and their son, now 5.
    — Claire Galofaro, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan, then stir in the broth.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of scraping
Verb
  • Rolison was a good sport and committed to the bit, despite wearing it for 12 hours in the hot weather.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • In the first photo, the SKIMS founder is seen wearing a pink tube top paired with a choker necklace and a frosty lip shade, all signature trends of the early aughts.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of wearing
Verb
  • Amid competing global crises and shifting donor priorities, that safety net is fraying.
    — Lorcan Lovett, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
  • To help prevent the fabric around the drawstring hole from fraying, paint a rectangle and snip an opening in the channel as described below.
    — Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of fraying
Verb
  • One juror was rubbing his eyes as Sullivan talked, and another was clasping and unclasping his hands in his lap.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Danger, Olivo, and Mosco had just eaten by the gazebo and Damaris was rubbing her pup’s head goodnight, about to go into the shack.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of rubbing

Browse Nearby Words

abrades
abrading
abrasion
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Cite this Entry

“Abrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrading. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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