as in annoying
causing annoyance
an abrasive display of rude behavior
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abrasive
In fact, things were getting a bit too modern a decade ago, as curlers started to use brooms with abrasive fabric heads.
—
Matt Slater, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Delia is the abrasive mother to Lydia, the Winona Ryder goth girl who stole America’s hearts.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Watkins stages the film as a vérité documentary, shot on raw 16mm with an abrasive immediacy that collapses the distance between historical fiction and urgent journalism.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
With magnesium sulfate as its main ingredient, Epsom salt is both abrasive and effective at melting small surface areas, like steps.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abrasive
Matt Slater, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Delia is the abrasive mother to Lydia, the Winona Ryder goth girl who stole America’s hearts.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Watkins stages the film as a vérité documentary, shot on raw 16mm with an abrasive immediacy that collapses the distance between historical fiction and urgent journalism.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
With magnesium sulfate as its main ingredient, Epsom salt is both abrasive and effective at melting small surface areas, like steps.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abrasive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrasive
Adjective
-
Noise limits In the 2010s, a common concern about wind turbines was that the swishing noise was annoying or even dangerous to residents’ health.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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Adhesive Residue No one likes to battle the annoying sticky residue left behind from price tags or brand labels, but those are no match for your steam cleaner.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Rubbing alcohol isn’t corrosive to metals, doesn’t stain clothes, and doesn’t cause the same irritating fumes as working with bleach does.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Feb. 2026
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The hypoallergenic face serum is free from potentially irritating ingredients, such as parabens and synthetic fragrances, too.—
Lauren Taylor,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Ignoring Temperature and Environment Every oven behaves differently, which can make baking frustrating at first.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
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More and more hard-to-trace checks are laundered among political committees, with their murky-sounding names and Tallahassee addresses, frustrating attempts by voters or the media to figure out exactly who’s giving to whom.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Nell Tiger Free stars as a young novice who works at a Catholic orphanage plagued by mysterious, disturbing circumstances.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
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In an initial statement Wednesday, Blalock said the video is disturbing and the parents and families of these students should be embarrassed.—
Allie Hennard,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abrasive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrasive. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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