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abrasive

[ uh-brey-siv, -ziv ]
/ əˈbreɪ sɪv, -zɪv /
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See synonyms for: abrasive / abrasives on Thesaurus.com

noun
any material or substance used for grinding, polishing, etc., as emery, pumice, or sandpaper.
adjective
tending to abrade; causing abrasion; abrading.
tending to annoy or cause ill will; overly aggressive: an abrasive personality.
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Origin of abrasive

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

OTHER WORDS FROM abrasive

a·bra·sive·ly, adverba·bra·sive·ness, nounun·a·bra·sive, adjectiveun·a·bra·sive·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use abrasive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abrasive

abrasive
/ (əˈbreɪsɪv) /

noun
a substance or material such as sandpaper, pumice, or emery, used for cleaning, grinding, smoothing, or polishing
adjective
causing abrasion; grating; rough
irritating in manner or personality; causing tension or annoyance

Derived forms of abrasive

abrasiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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