ABRADE Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

abrade

verb

ə-ˈbrād

Definition of abrade

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

as in to irritate

to make sore by continued rubbing my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrade

Verb

Hence the switch, a year or so after the film’s release, to a stadium now named after the latest in a long line of sponsors that, for all the vital money brought in, have slightly eroded identity.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
If Chinese production pushes hardware prices into a freefall, the collateral backing hundreds of billions in private loans could erode far faster than the terms of the debt itself, leaving investors exposed to losses, according to Emons.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of erode

Verb

Lemon water can irritate teeth or stomach in large amounts and may need to be limited in people with advanced kidney disease who have fluid or potassium restrictions.

— MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026
Few things at airports irritate customers like filthy toilets or water on the restroom floor.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritate

Verb

One group scraped the earth where the blacksmith shop was believed to have once stood.

— Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2026
In its complaint, the Freedom of the Press Foundation argued that Truth API could restrict its ability to scrape all the president’s posts and determine which are anti-media arguments – a core product that the group offers.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrape

Verb

Cue forward Josh Windass revealing on camera how James, as one of those who had worn the armband during the season, had approached him about setting up a meeting with just the players present.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Workers who spend hours outdoors, such as construction and farm workers, also commonly wear UPF clothing.

— Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of wear

Verb

As the latest iteration of her signature red tresses, these braids are just like the songs on her latest studio album, Blue Island—frayed, perfectly tousled, and free-flowing.

— Sidney Madden, VIBE.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Reconstituting the bilateral bond between the two countries, now frayed by more than a year of threats and punitive measures, will not happen overnight.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of fray

Browse Nearby Words

abracadabras

abrade

abraded

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Style

“Abrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrade. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of abrade

verb

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