abrade

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of ABRADE

to damage or diminish by continued friction <ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers>

Synonyms chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, rasp, rub, wear

Related Words file, gnaw, grate, graze, grind, nibble, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scuff, shave; erase, reduce, rub out, wear out, wipe (away); bite, break down, break up, chew, corrode, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, eat; hone, sharpen, whet

to make sore by continued rubbing <the prisoner's manacles abraded his wrists and ankles until they bled>

Synonyms abrade, excoriate, fret, gall, irritate

Related Words graze, scrape, scratch; burn, inflame (also enflame); flay, peel, skin

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 abrade, graze, scratch, scuff

Related Words bark, skin; chafe, fret, gall; claw, cut, lacerate; bruise, contuse

Near Antonyms polish, smooth, soften, wax

What made you want to look up abrade? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Put-downs with flair

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears