RASP Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

rasp 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rasp

as in scratch

a harsh grating sound the rusted lock opened with a rasp

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rasp

2 of 2

verb

ˈrasp

as in to rub

to make smooth by friction after sawing the board in half, rasp the ends to remove any splinters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to scratch

to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the sound of fingernails rasping on the blackboard makes me cringe

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 rasp

Noun

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 But then Davis meets up with his boss, Money, played by Nick Nolte with an old man’s jagged rasp as dramatic as his wry middle-aged intensity used to be. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026

Verb

When the beetle takes flight, the woman, who is busy unpacking, doesn’t realize for a moment that there’s something out of place about that rasping ruckus, that foreign hum. — María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026 Thrips have rasping, sucking mouthparts. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rasp

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp

Noun

Given that matte white finishes are sometimes made out of enamel, scratches and chips are a possibility, Bennett shares.

— Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 21 Aug. 2026
Many of the improvements are with the cameras—still a big reason to buy a Pixel—but there are some minor, welcome upgrades, like a scratch-resistant display coating, a brighter screen, more base storage, and faster charging.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of scratch

Verb

For instance, Qidi had to include a piece of Velcro to prevent the Polar Cooler tube from rubbing against the glass surface inside the top cover.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2026
Gently rub the entire surface in small circular motions, then use a dry cloth to wipe down the entire surface.

— Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of rub

Verb

That was Gardner’s first game with the Colts after being acquired from the New York Jets, and while Indy pulled out the OT victory, Gardner was still annoyed by some of the social media chatter afterward.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Debt collectors also can't repeatedly call with the intent to annoy, abuse or harass you.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of annoy

Verb

The Buc-ee’s beaver logo features the face of a beaver with prominent buck teeth wearing a red ball cap against a yellow backdrop.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
That same day, hundreds of women gathered outside the courthouse where Clancy is standing trial, wearing bright pink, in an attempt to raise awareness around maternal mental health.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of wear

Noun

The durable metal is also rust-resistant, and reviews say that despite its metal frame, creaks and squeaks are minimal.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026
Prairie grasses and bonnet strings whip in the wind as the creak of wagon wheels carries across the rippling grassland.

— Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 22 June 2026

Definition of creak

Verb

The judge ordered him to file an asylum application in English before his next hearing and told him to find an interpreter.

— Meena Shah, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026
No criminal charges have been filed against Walter, and the investigation does not allege that the Dodgers or Lakers committed wrongdoing.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of file

Verb

Not too much bugs him, but he sometimes is annoyed by his baby sister and doesn’t trust people who put pineapple on their pizza.

— Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2026
The indictment revealed that prosecutors had bugged the Aisenbergs' home for three months after Sabrina's disappearance.

— Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026