1
as in to erode
to damage or diminish by continued friction
ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in to scrape
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface
the yacht's once-flawless wooden hull had been badly abraded by years of rough dockings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of abrade
Loose-fitting covers can flap in the wind and abrade wicker surfaces.
—
Colleen Sullivan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Dec. 2025
Pockmarks and brittle edges show the abrading action of millennia of wind and rain.
—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
Each time clothes rub against each other in the washer, the friction abrades the fibers slightly causing the surface to look dull.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
For example, the prior version’s straps abraded the skin around his knee, but redistributing the weight through abdominal and thigh straps fixed the problem.
—
Eliza Strickland,
IEEE Spectrum,
15 July 2015
See All Example Sentences for abrade
Colleen Sullivan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Dec. 2025
Pockmarks and brittle edges show the abrading action of millennia of wind and rain.
—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
Each time clothes rub against each other in the washer, the friction abrades the fibers slightly causing the surface to look dull.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
For example, the prior version’s straps abraded the skin around his knee, but redistributing the weight through abdominal and thigh straps fixed the problem.
—
Eliza Strickland,
IEEE Spectrum,
15 July 2015
See All Example Sentences for abrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade
Verb
-
But Koppl traced a distinctly American lineage through a chain of precedents dating back more than 50 years, each one further eroding the market discipline that profit-and-loss accountability is supposed to provide.
-
Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.
Verb
-
But for those who just want to grab a bite or see a movie at the IMAX theater, the security protocol is an additional — possibly irritating — barrier.
-
Carpet shampoos often have a strong fragrance, which can irritate those sensitive to scent.
Verb
-
When a user asked boat-botany why New Reddit isn’t scraped as often as Old Reddit, the Reddit employee pointed to a comment by another user.
-
Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with ⅓ cup sour cream in 2 additions (about 2½ tablespoons each), scraping down bowl as needed.
Verb
-
But on Wednesday, the day after Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 to secure its fourth consecutive World Cup victory, the fan and his wife, Angélica Arias, walked to the plaza wearing two identical caps.
-
And even though Georgia law does not require this, all cyclists and scooterists should wear helmets.
Verb
-
In April, when Rojas got news that his father had been rushed to the hospital, Roberts quickly took the decision on whether to play out of Rojas’ hands, scratching him from the lineup.
-
New York scratched across two more runs in the 10th, taking advantage of another throwing error by Abreu after Rosario's sinking liner squirted out of his glove for an RBI single.
Verb
-
Now, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton present a stark choice to voters in the race to be the next governor at a moment when public support for the state’s generous safety net is starting to fray.
-
The same fear of a fraying dollar system is driving Russia and others toward bitcoin and pushing Wall Street to treat which reserve asset wins as a live question.
Cite this Entry
“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
