1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction
after sawing the board in half, rasp the ends to remove any splinters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
the two siblings seemed intent on rasping each other for the entire car trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction
during the last ice age, glaciers rasped the surface, leaving the deeply scarred rock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rasp
Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
In this case, there’s not much in the way of medication that can help; Dr. Mercado notes that OTC drugs haven’t actually been proven effective for softening a bad rasp.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Feb. 2025
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
What endures is the rasping byplay, the soaring exasperation, the tango of opposing temperaments finding fleeting common ground.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Noun
Kennedy’s vocal rasp is not caused by an infection or respiratory condition.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
In this case, there’s not much in the way of medication that can help; Dr. Mercado notes that OTC drugs haven’t actually been proven effective for softening a bad rasp.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
And then Elisabeth uses it, and her spine splits open, leaving her a rasping husk of flesh while an alternate self rises, in the dewy buff, to survey her taut flesh with a clinical eye in the mirror.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
What endures is the rasping byplay, the soaring exasperation, the tango of opposing temperaments finding fleeting common ground.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp
Noun
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Meanwhile, launching a business from scratch is riskier but results in the potential for innovation and long-term scalability.—
Raheel Sheikh,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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True to their TikTok reputation, every element—including the brioche buns—is made from scratch.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This is an effective way to acknowledge foresight without rubbing it in, says Malka Shaw, a licensed clinical social worker in Nutley, N.J.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
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After she's clambered over, Harper gently rubs her brother's back before snuggling up next to him.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Sifting and scraping toxic particles would only further the ongoing coastal erosion, which is its own climate change impact.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
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If another caterpillar wanders into their territory, these tiny critters start furiously drumming their heads, shaking their bodies and scraping their butts against the leaf—a series of complex vibratory behaviors to signal that their leaf tip is off-limits.—
Rohini Subrahmanyam,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Easily annoyed by noises like gum smacking or cereal slurping.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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The controversy over attire comes just two months after Zelensky was criticized and called disrespectful by a reporter at the White House for not wearing a suit during his visit to the Oval Office, with reports suggesting that Trump was annoyed by Zelensky's choice of clothing.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Famously, stage and film star Sir Sean Connery openly discussed wearing a headpiece in all of his James Bond roles.—
Rhiannon Frater,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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Inter won a free kick in the first minute of the second half — and Chivu, who wore a sporadically unclasped rugby scrum cap during the game, blasted it wide from 40 yards out, emphasising their total disinterest in mounting any meaningful attack.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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My assumption is that most rational human beings would happily stay in a warm and cozy office and simply listen to the building creak and groan under the force of the violent gusts.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside Online,
11 Mar. 2025
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The set is a ship’s deck that tilts and creaks ominously while a screen plays eerily textured footage of a roiling ocean.—
Houman Barekat,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In arguing for the reforms three years ago, insurers said that the industry had become unprofitable due to an avalanche of frivolous lawsuits filed under a century-old Florida law.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2025
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Feldstein Soto said the UCLA Police Department referred 245 arrests and all were declined for filing due to insufficient evidence.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Curry is 37 and played Sunday with his right thumb wrapped in athletic tape, nursing an ailment that has bugged him all season.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2025
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And for me, nothing bugs me more than engaging in social activities to check the box rather than making meaningful connections.—
Time,
Time,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasp. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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