Word of the Day

: December 16, 2021

abrasive

adjective uh-BRAY-siv

What It Means

Abrasive means, literally, "causing damage or wear by rubbing, grinding, or scraping." Figuratively, it is used to describe people or things that are unpleasant or irritating.

// The powder might seem abrasive, but when used as instructed, it will remove dirt without damaging the surface.

// Customer service requires being able to satisfy the polite subscribers but also the abrasive ones who argue with the terms of agreement.

See the entry >

abrasive in Context

"During the late fall and winter, frequent snowfall and abrasive sidewalk salt can damage the design of a holiday doormat within weeks." — Valerie Jacobsen, KDVR (Denver, Colorado), 29 Oct. 2021

Did You Know?

Once upon a time, English had abrade and abrase. While abrade remains a familiar word, abrase is rare but survives in abrasive. Both verbs come from abrādere, meaning "to remove by rubbing" or "to scrape off."