abrasive

[ uh-brey-siv, -ziv ]

noun

1. any material or substance used for grinding, polishing, etc., as emery, pumice, or sandpaper.

adjective

1. tending to abrade; causing abrasion; abrading.

   Synonyms: rasping, rough, harsh

2. tending to annoy or cause ill will; overly aggressive:

   an abrasive personality.

abrasive

/ əˈbreɪsɪv /

noun

1. a substance or material such as sandpaper, pumice, or emery, used for cleaning, grinding, smoothing, or polishing

adjective

1. causing abrasion; grating; rough
2. irritating in manner or personality; causing tension or annoyance

Derived Forms

• aˈbrasiveness, noun

Other Words From

• a·brasive·ly adverb
• a·brasive·ness noun
• una·brasive adjective
• una·brasive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of abrasive¹

1870–75; < Latin abrās ( us ) ( abrasion ) + -ive

Example Sentences

Now 30, he’s the author of five comedy specials which lean on a cutthroat, abrasive humor that makes his audience cringe as well as smirk.

From Ozy

Plus, they’re more effective and less abrasive than toilet paper.

From Popular-Science

We went at it with the most abrasive cleaning products we had on hand, shaking and queasy, scrubbing until it had vanished.

From Washington Post

Then, when it could not be easily wiped off, my industrious husband took the abrasive side of a sponge to it, leaving scratches that looked like a bear had dragged its claws across the surface.

From Washington Post

If your floor steam cleaner has a scrubbing option, skip that—you don’t want to risk scratching the laminate surface with anything abrasive.

From Popular-Science

In her newest EP Love Your Boyfriend, she takes the messaging of love songs and places it in an abrasive, sonic package.

From The Daily Beast

The sound of the record, meanwhile, is ideal: not too smooth, not too abrasive.

From The Daily Beast

He stayed away from the gym for a while and came back transformed, abrasive and rude when he had once been polite and respectful.

From The Daily Beast

There is a sense that House of Cards reflects the infighting and abrasive atmosphere of the political sphere at the time.

From The Daily Beast

In contrast to the abrasive and high-handed Zakir, Ibrahim is an admired figure among the insurgents.

From The Daily Beast

Oil or other fluids used on work are apt to drop on it and when wet for a short time the abrasive is useless.

From Project Gutenberg

Old Gilby, the pro, could be abrasive when a bone-head play disfigured the game he loved.

From Project Gutenberg

After abrasive years on a dozen planets and habitable moons, the ugly savageries of Venus had only a quaint charm.

From Project Gutenberg

No amount of the hardest known abrasive will even roughen its surface.

From Project Gutenberg

Saleratus Bill had carefully removed every abrasive possibility in the two rooms.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• polish