to abrade

Examples

• All

• The marble beaches are unsatisfactory when viewed solely as protection because the sediments are too easily abraded to provide long-term protection.

  Academic text (2008)

• Exoskeletal parts of the Alien are abraded and ripped off by the moving piston.

  Fiction book (1992)

• I can see my remarks have begun to abrade the skin.

  Fiction book (1994)

• I could see the wire leader abrading the front of his head.

  Academic text (1997)

• The heel of a wine bottle had abraded into foggy green stone.

  Fiction book (1997)

• A thin bandage was taped over his abraded palm.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The parent material is first lightly abraded (blasted) to create a "tooth" for the coating.

  Blog text (20)

• The rough surface of the stone can abrade the skin if you rub against it.

• If you scrub too hard, you might abrade the painted surface of the wall.

Synonyms

S

to scrape

vsto abrade

62 1.2

To rub material off a surface with something hard or sharp

is similar but does not require a hard or sharp tool

R

to rub off

vsto abrade

5 3.4

Come off a surface when something moves against it

is the active process of wearing the surface away by rubbing

W

to wear away

vsto abrade

2 3.8

To slowly remove material by rubbing or long use

means the same wearing action caused specifically by rubbing or scraping

G

to grind down

vsto abrade

2 6.1

Wear a surface away slowly by rubbing, or make someone very tired

is the pure act of wearing a surface, not the metaphorical weakening sense

F

to fret

vsto abrade

1 6.7

Wear away skin or material by rubbing

focuses on the same wearing action without the sense of irritation

R

to rub away

vsto abrade

1 3.4

Remove a mark by moving a cloth or hand over it many times

covers the same physical removal but not necessarily complete elimination

S

to sand off

vsto abrade

1 4.7

To remove the top layer of something by rubbing it with sandpaper

means wearing the surface by friction or scraping without specifying tool

A

to ablate

vsto abrade

• Specialized

1 9.9

Remove material from a surface by melting, wearing away, or burning

involves physical wearing by rubbing or scraping rather than other processes

A

to abrase

vsto abrade

• Archaic

9.9

Wear away the surface of something by rubbing or scraping

is the same meaning but spelled differently in usage

A

to attrit

vsto abrade

9.9

To wear away a surface slowly by rubbing

focuses on wearing the surface by direct rubbing or scraping action

R

to rub down

vsto abrade

4.4

To make a surface smooth by moving something over it

is broader, applying to wearing away rather than only finishing

F

to frazzle

vsto abrade

7.5

To rub something so it becomes damaged at the edges

is the general act of wearing away rather than constant damage emphasis

C

to corrade

vsto abrade

• Archaic

9.9

To wear away rock when water or wind rubs it

applies more generally to any surface being worn by rubbing or scraping

Antonyms

P

to preserve

496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

How Abrasive

to grind

61 2.4

to scour

15 4.8

to abrade

5 8.1

to scratch

161 1.1

to rub

600 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology