1
as in erodes
to damage or diminish by continued friction
ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in scrapes
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
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Recent Examples of abrades
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
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrades
Verb
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Critics argue that approach undermines job stability and erodes workers’ rights by limiting access to benefits tied to salaries.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
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Referencing Gandhi's observation that life is one indivisible whole, Esposito argues that a broken home life bleeds into workplace performance, while a struggling community erodes the stability of every family within it.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Daisy is caught so off guard that her first reaction is to laugh, which irritates Ben.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2026
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Castor Oil Castor oil irritates the digestive system of the moles and makes the soil less inviting to them.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Avery Sullivan, with whom Morris also plays in the country-rock band Fust, keeps loose time on drums, tapping the snare like someone setting down coffee mugs while Libby Rodenbough scrapes out a few melody lines on her fiddle and colors empty spaces with some ghostly tremolo.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
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To show me, Max reaches a metal pick into a tank of clear water and scrapes a white line that seems to hover in the center of the tank.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Edmondson wears top hats, but his real passion is for period technology.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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Writer Julia Harrison wears hers every day, a testament to both their quality and aesthetic versatility.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The top 14 fillies on the leaderboard are guaranteed a spot in the starting gate, with three horses added as also-eligibles in case anyone in the main field scratches.—
Teresa Genaro,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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For a child who scratches through the night or wakes up with irritated patches, that difference in breathability is meaningful.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The coalition of supporters frays Still another issue is conflict within the legalization movement itself, particularly between the business and activist wings.—
William Garriott,
The Conversation,
17 Apr. 2026
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This particular aspect of the show frays the gripping tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abrades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrades. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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