1
2
as in to irritate
to make sore by continued rubbing my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 After the fall of Hosni Mubarak, ordinary Egyptians brought paint cans from home to Tahrir Square, to re-mark the curbs that had been flaked from years of government neglect, and abraded by tanks and flying bricks during the protests. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024 For example, stone washing, which uses pumice stones and water to physically abrade the indigo dyestuff from the fabric surface, can be replaced by enzyme washing in low-liquid ratio machines. Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 5 Dec. 2024 In response to the downstream concerns about the prevention and control of lyocell fibrillation—the fiber separation in yarn that can occur when textiles are wet and abraded, which can cause pilling—Sateri provides three cross-linking solutions that are formaldehyde-free and easy to operate. Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 27 Sep. 2024 It’s believed this phenomenon is thanks to the fast flow of the water that abrades the rocky coast, dislodging more minerals into the ocean. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 27 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for abrade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade
Verb
  • The persistent issue of greenwashing, where investments are promoted as sustainable without verifiable environmental benefits, has eroded trust and slowed market development.
    Edoardo Francesco Sabatino, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • Maryland’s coastlines are eroding at an alarming rate.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • Sturdy posts at the front of the shoes connect to a flip-flop style design that won’t irritate or chafe your skin, while the supportive insoles are far better-suited for days spent on your feet than flimsy, cheaper sandals.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2025
  • There are pull-ups made with Velcro that can irritate your child’s skin, especially when misaligned.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • To determine whether demodex mites are the cause of skin irritations, dermatologists can tape or lightly scrape the top layer of skin and place the sample under a microscope, Ricardo-Gonzalez said.
    Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
  • In the nine games since, Soto has scraped together just four hits in 34 at bats.
    Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Other supporters wore white and packed the stands of the high school gymnasium Tuesday night, when the volleyball team dedicated a match to their missing teammate.
    Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
  • One Amazon reviewer wore them during a trip to Italy and said their feet felt great after being on them all day in the heat.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • But the car industry has not scratched the surface of these vehicles' potential.
    Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 28 May 2025
  • First-timers typically make a beeline for Madrid and Barcelona, but even then, most people will only scratch the surface of these cities and their surroundings.
    Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • He’s healed physically, but his mental health is frayed.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 May 2025
  • The partnership of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has been central to White House operations since the administration took office in January, but with Musk now stepping away from the limelight, there are signs that the personal bond between the two has frayed.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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