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
as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound
a patient beset by a rasping cough from years of smoking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rubbing
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 annoying
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 eroding
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
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
The soft rasp of her voice was a surprise, deeper than Sam would have expected from someone so small.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Steve Douglas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Noun
One great thing about Hackman is that there was no alteration in the rounded rasp of his voice when the moral conditions changed.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
The soft rasp of her voice was a surprise, deeper than Sam would have expected from someone so small.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
City trailed 1-0 at halftime after Marcus Rashford’s rasping long-range strike in the eighth minute and a glaring miss from the prolific Haaland from barely two meters out.
—Steve Douglas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp
Noun
-
The ability to generate ideas from scratch, to truly go from nothing to something, is a skill.—
Christian Hyatt,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
But then they are just met with crying meows and scratches at the door.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Signs someone has swallowed a button battery include: noisy breathing, coughing, drooling, difficulty swallowing, a hoarse voice, vomiting, chest or abdominal pain, and gagging, coughing or choking with eating or drinking.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
8 June 2025
-
But the festive atmosphere dissipated immediately after Mr. Biden, pale and hoarse, shuffled onto the stage in Atlanta and began stumbling through his answers.—
Annie Karni,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
There will be a few fewer bumps and bruises, fewer scrapes with injury, players’ health and energy preserved for the duration of the league’s longer, compact schedule.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
18 June 2025
-
Pink scrape marks blossomed above and below his right eye.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
Eric Bauman, a gruff and tireless political operative who led two of California’s most powerful Democratic organizations before resigning amid misconduct allegations, died Monday.—
Laura J. Nelson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
-
Cross-examination from the defense’s gruff Xavier Donaldson will continue first thing Tuesday when the trial picks up again.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
The dim shake of her flashlight on the wall, the creak of the floor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2025
-
Like any old building, Larkin Lodge has creaks and drafts, but Emily thinks there’s more going on.—
Gabino Iglesias,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Pictures of husky puppy Kiss who is now in the care of Austin Pets Alive!—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 June 2025
-
Fred Clemens, the lodge owner, told us that a few big bass had been caught in Grassy Bay, also some husky channel cats running to 12 pounds.—
Don Shiner,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasp. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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