abrade
verb
ə-ˈbrād 
abraded; abrading
transitive verb
1
a
: to rub or wear away especially by friction : erode
b
: to irritate or roughen by rubbing
2
: to wear down in spirit : irritate, weary
intransitive verb
: to undergo abrasion
abradable
ə-ˈbrā-də-bəl
adjective abrader noun
Synonyms
- chafe
- corrade
- erode
- fray
- frazzle
- fret
- gall
- rasp
- rub
- wear
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers the prisoner's manacles abraded his wrists and ankles until they bled
Recent Examples on the Web Wine Away was easy to remove from fabrics without excessive blotting or rinsing that can abrade or damage fabrics. 
Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping, 1 Sep. 2022 Like dirt, those teeth will abrade fabrics during a wash cycle. Joe Lindsey, Outside Online, 17 July 2021 This parodic picaresque finds Sturges at the zenith of his formidable powers to abrade and delight. Washington Post, 31 July 2021 Anyway, to get back to the subject, the definitions for chafe are broad and grumpy: to irritate and vex, to abrade, to rub so as to wear away, to make sore, to feel irritation, discontent or impatience. Bernadette Kinlaw, Arkansas Online, 31 May 2021 Another great crossover from the auto-body industry is rubbing compound that cleans and abrades the surface at the same time. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2020 The findings from the cave also included a number of pumice stones that the Neanderthals likely used as an abrading tool to sharpen other tools. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Jan. 2020 The important thing is to abrade off shiny spots, rust, deep scratches, and the like. Dan Roe, Popular Mechanics, 20 Oct. 2019 Olefin is stain- and fade-resistant but can abrade with use. Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 23 Sep. 2019 See More
Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping, 1 Sep. 2022 Like dirt, those teeth will abrade fabrics during a wash cycle. Joe Lindsey, Outside Online, 17 July 2021 This parodic picaresque finds Sturges at the zenith of his formidable powers to abrade and delight. Washington Post, 31 July 2021 Anyway, to get back to the subject, the definitions for chafe are broad and grumpy: to irritate and vex, to abrade, to rub so as to wear away, to make sore, to feel irritation, discontent or impatience. Bernadette Kinlaw, Arkansas Online, 31 May 2021 Another great crossover from the auto-body industry is rubbing compound that cleans and abrades the surface at the same time. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2020 The findings from the cave also included a number of pumice stones that the Neanderthals likely used as an abrading tool to sharpen other tools. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Jan. 2020 The important thing is to abrade off shiny spots, rust, deep scratches, and the like. Dan Roe, Popular Mechanics, 20 Oct. 2019 Olefin is stain- and fade-resistant but can abrade with use. Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 23 Sep. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin abrādere "to remove by rubbing, scrape off," from ab- ab- + rādere "to scrape" — more at rase
First Known Use
1675, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Kids Definition
abrade
verb
ə-ˈbrād
abraded; abrading
: to wear away or irritate by rubbing
The rough fabric abraded his skin.
Medical Definition
abrade
transitive verb
ə-ˈbrād
abraded; abrading
: to irritate or roughen by rubbing : chafe
abrade
verb
1
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
- erode
- wear
- fray
- rub
- chafe
- scrape
- reduce
- erase
- frazzle
- sharpen
- bite
- sandblast
- shave
- sandpaper
- gnaw
- scour
- gall
- scuff
- fret
- chew
- graze
- corrade
- corrode
- rasp
- eat
- disintegrate
- file
- nibble
- grate
- decompose
- dissolve
- grind
- hone
- whet
- wear out
- rub out
- wipe (away)
- break down
- break up
2
as in to irritate
to make sore by continued rubbing my new running shoes abraded my heels until they blistered Synonyms & Similar Words
- irritate
- scrape
- scratch
- chafe
- excoriate
- graze
- fret
- gall
- skin
- peel
- burn
- inflame
- flay
- enflame
3
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
- scrape
- scratch
- scuff
- graze
- bruise
- chafe
- lacerate
- bark
- skin
- claw
- cut
- fret
- gall
- contuse
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soften
- polish
- smooth
- wax