ENGLISH
REFERENCE

abrased

v.
C1 Advanced abrased

v. to wear away a surface by rubbing it against something rough. It can also mean to hurt someone's feelings by being too direct or rude.

v. to wear away or smooth a surface by friction; to cause emotional distress or offense through harshness or directness. Often used in technical contexts regarding materials or in literary contexts regarding social interactions.


SIMPLE

The wind abrased the stone over many years.

CONTEXTUAL

The harsh criticism abrased the young artist's confidence, making him doubt his entire career.

COMPLEX

Geologists observed how the constant movement of the river abrased the riverbed, eventually smoothing the jagged rocks into a fine, silty sediment.

Synonyms

© 2026 English Reference