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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

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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
  • 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
  • When the water receded, the cliffs were exposed and began eroding, revealing prehistoric remains.
    — Katie Riley, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026
  • And the risk factors — high spending, low growth, rising debt and elevated borrowing costs — lead some economists to warn that while Russia's economy has not collapsed, its structural foundations are eroding dangerously.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of eroding
Verb
  • In the post, Wouter was pictured wearing a dog cone, which is used to prevent pets from licking, chewing or scratching surgical sites or wounds.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The best snacks have proven staying power, scratching every sweet, salty itch time and time again.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of scratching
Verb
  • On a map, Newfoundland is a vast, asymmetrical island, cloven by bays and inlets, semi-detached to appendages of land deformed by ancient glaciers scraping over it, leaving glacial striations, grooves and gouges on its granite face.
    — Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of scraping
Verb
  • Reinhart’s character, Olive Smith, is primarily seen wearing her lab coat, but outside of the laboratory, she is dressed in red, blue and green outfits.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
  • At the show, guests including Meadow Walker, Space Afrika and King Princess were spotted wearing a new collaborative Speedcat in all-black.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of wearing
Verb
  • Social cohesion is fraying, and crime is rising, while plunging birth rates and emigration warp Cuba’s demographics.
    — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Despite fraying relations with FIFA, the vibe once the sport began was largely good.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of fraying
Verb
  • As far as technique, pressing is gentler on dry skin than rubbing or dragging.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Among other things, Noohu accused showrunner Ed Brubaker of rubbing his back and of making comments about running his hands through Noohu’s hair.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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