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
Bryan West, The Tennessean, 30 May 2025
Using a rasp grater such as a Microplane, finely zest the lemon into the bowl and gently toss the ingredients to combine.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025
Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
While Mullan’s natural voice shares Shankly’s rasping quality, their inflexions are different.
—Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Noun
The soulful rasp of his voice bellowed through the open-roof into the Nashville night.
—Bryan West, The Tennessean, 30 May 2025
Using a rasp grater such as a Microplane, finely zest the lemon into the bowl and gently toss the ingredients to combine.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025
Verb
The Argentina legend stepped up and rasped the ball into the top corner.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
While Mullan’s natural voice shares Shankly’s rasping quality, their inflexions are different.
—Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp
Noun
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The porcelain is scratch-resistant and is safe to pop into the microwave, oven, and dishwasher.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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The simulations showed the effect of tiny scratches in the metal – details that don’t easily appear on other computer models.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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On the other hand, rubbing can make a problem worse since this is what causes pilling in the first place.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
18 Aug. 2025
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At twenty-nine, OG Kinga attends her high-school reunion, primed to rub her beauty and success in her former classmates’ faces.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With the September 3 finalization date looming, this case may well mark the beginning of the end of the Wild West era of AI data scraping.—
Sol Rashidi,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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The bottoms of the cars crash and scrape against the concrete, making a loud banging sound.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Newcastle fans are understandably annoyed with Isak, but have, for the most part, aimed their anger at Liverpool rather than their own club’s incompetence this summer.—
James Nalton,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
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That wasn’t an attempt to minimize Friday’s miscues or shrug past all the disorder that had Johnson annoyed.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Boot Barn is the largest western and work wear retailer in the nation, according to Boot Barn Marketing Specialist Tanna Doyel.—
Ruby Grisin,
The Courier-Journal,
28 Aug. 2025
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Justin, meanwhile, delights in the most gargantuan hoodies and bottoms, bulbous footwear, and sporty accessories, while always wearing something from his own brand too.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Inside the Sámi church, centuries-old wood creaks under candlelight—while at Nutti Sámi Siida (a reindeer lodge offering traditional Sámi experiences), visitors sip warm lingonberry juice and listen to joik songs.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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As the jurors exited the courtroom, the only sound was the creak of the swinging gate.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After the complaint was filed, a department named in the filing — the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office — motioned for Hartig to recuse herself from its cases.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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Trademark applications are all entirely public, so once the mark is filed, the cat is out of the bag.—
Jess Collen,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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His not winning it was considered a failure, and that bugged him.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
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The characters muse about the extreme likelihood that their apartments have been bugged.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasp. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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