abrades

verb

present tense third-person singular of abrade
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
as in irritates
to make sore by continued rubbing my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abrades
  1. erodes
  2. irritates
  3. scrapes
  4. wears
  5. scratches
  6. frays
Verb
  • The reassuring finding, across the research represented in the room at the CIFAR workshop, is that candidness about uncertainty generally maintains or builds trust rather than erodes it.
    — Aleeza Gerstein, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The vision ultimately describes a county where growth enhances rather than erodes the characteristics that make Placer distinct.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of erodes
Verb
  • With contact dermatitis, a product like a soap or chemical irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, leading to symptoms like itching, discoloration, swelling, or even blisters.
    — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The capsaicin in hot peppers irritates pests and deters them from feeding on plants.
    — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026
Definition of irritates
Verb
  • People should immediately wash cuts and scrapes thoroughly with soap and clean running water after coming in contact with coastal waters or raw seafood, the CDC said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The tool scrapes third-party sources to compile additional information and context about individual tracks.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
Definition of scrapes
Verb
  • Olivia Miles, the rookie point guard for the Minnesota Lynx, wears a pair of bug-eyed sports goggles, black and bulbous, sometimes held in place by a thick strap that runs through her luxuriant Afro.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Every patient wears a card on a lanyard, encoded so the equipment knows who's standing in front of it.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of wears
Verb
  • Culturally, college football scratches the human itch for tribalism, which America’s ethos of individualism fortunately discourages.
    — George F. Will, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The brand’s Krossa desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratches
Verb
  • Conjuring the troubled inner life of a young, successful Buenos Aires fashion designer with an uncommon mix of stylistic rigor and feeling, the film frays your nerves.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of frays

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abraded
abrades
abrading
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Cite this Entry

“Abrades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abrades. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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