1
as in files
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 annoys
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 wears
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasps
Noun
-
Luckily, because of ceramic’s resistance to scratches, keeping your timepiece bright and polished is easier than doing the same for your teeth.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026 -
Make Furniture Feet Protectors Avoiding floor scratches from your furniture is easy with old sponges.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
In an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, Paxton files a lawsuit against battleground states Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
Intuit files notice for mass layoffs Intuit is cutting hundreds of employees across two states as the company filed notices for mass layoffs in California and Nevada, Jason Hidalgo reports.—
Kristin Scharkey,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The structured silhouette and clean lines feel refined without being flashy, while the durable leather withstands scrapes from branches and changing weather.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2026
-
All these ideas and connections sort of gradually built up in the same way that Yoriko, the sculptor, gradually adds clay to her model — and then scrapes some off again, and then adds new bits.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Just the idea of him annoys me.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
-
Still, what really annoys Daisy is that Ellie doesn’t seem to respect her rank.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Wiley often wears her hair in a stretched state, combing through her gray coils with a blow dryer before doing a braid-out.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
29 May 2026
-
The character is an adult who drinks, wears impeccable clothing, and beds women—the familiar Bond tropes.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Mr Cobra opens like a dark, cobwebbed staircase leading into a vast and foreboding space, all frantic flute and piano, creaks, and bone-chilling screeches (not to mention a slutty monologue seemingly communicated via Google Translate).—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Woo walked slowly across the room, using a walker to stabilize his upper body, his steps a symphony of clunks and creaks and whirs.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The plastic bristles coax out loose hair as your cat rubs against it.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
-
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
When traveling, the EPA suggests inspecting any room visitors will be staying in for the presence of bed bugs.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
As an existing subdivision — 99% of it vacant — Azure Vista offered hundreds of buildable vacant lots populated only by red ants, quail and Groucho Marx bugs.—
Eric DuVall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Rasps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasps. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
