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
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
21 Oct. 2025
Her strong, confident country voice shone through immediately in her performance of this Judds song, with just enough rasp to really give it some edge.
—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
29 Sep. 2025
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
Hines and Pidgeon give the woman a choreography, the dramatic toss of the hair, the hips gone concave, the Marlboro rasp in her voice.
—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Noun
Kirbi, that rasp is so beautiful at the top of your register.
—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
21 Oct. 2025
Her strong, confident country voice shone through immediately in her performance of this Judds song, with just enough rasp to really give it some edge.
—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
Thrips have rasping, sucking mouthparts.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
Hines and Pidgeon give the woman a choreography, the dramatic toss of the hair, the hips gone concave, the Marlboro rasp in her voice.
—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp
Noun
-
Made-from-scratch cheesecake doesn’t seem so hard when made as cupcakes where there’s no water bath, springform pan, and long chilling time required.
-
The report's authors said the case highlights the importance of seeking immediate medical evaluation after any direct contact with a bat, even if there is no visible bite or scratch.
Verb
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Dozens of media outlets, from international agencies to local TV stations to true crime podcasters, were inside the Lexington County courthouse to again chronicle every forehead rub and quizzical look from the once rich and imposing Southern lawyer.
-
The bumper was rubbing the tire and a headlight looked to be dragging.
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
-
Damian used to get annoyed with his father's motivational chats about responsibility.
-
Three hours before the parade is set to begin, paradegoers are already annoyed at the disorganization and slow-moving lines.
Verb
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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.
Noun
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Prairie grasses and bonnet strings whip in the wind as the creak of wagon wheels carries across the rippling grassland.
-
Iwerks worked with Bonnie Wild, a sound mixer whose credits include multiple Marvel and Star Wars projects, to piece together all of the sound from scratch — every creak of metal, every footstep and hammer, and every tractor driving across concrete.
Verb
-
In May, the EEOC filed a discrimination lawsuit against the New York Times alleging discrimination against a white male employee, which the Times has rejected as politically motivated.
-
After Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles, several people filed a lawsuit in July 2025 alleging authorities questioned them without justification.
Verb
-
What really bugs me about this moment, and about the battle and its aftermath, is the lack of feeling.
-
The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
Cite this Entry
“Rasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasp. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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