adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:/əˈbɹeɪ.sɪv/
US:/əˈbɹeɪ.zɪv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH0 B R EY1 S IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Producing abrasion; rough enough to wear away the outer surface.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Being rough and coarse in manner or disposition; overly aggressive and causing irritation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
An abrasive person can grate on one's sensibilities.
Despite her proper upbringing, we found her manners to be terribly abrasive.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cutting
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A hard inorganic substance or material consisting in powder or granule form such as sandpaper, pumice, or emery, used for cleaning, smoothing, or polishing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Rock fragments, sand grains, mineral particles, used by water, wind, and ice to abrade a land surface.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
sharply disagreeable; rigorous
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the harsh facts of court delays
an abrasive character
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: harsh
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
causing abrasion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: scratchy
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
a substance that abrades or wears down
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
