abrasion

7 synonyms and 1 antonym for abrasion, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A scraped area of skin where the surface has been rubbed or scratched off.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

scratch grinding scrape

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

attrition corrasion detrition excoriation

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A scraped area of skin where the surface has been rubbed or scratched off.

“He cleaned the abrasion on his knee after the fall.”

scratch grinding scrape attrition corrasion detrition excoriation

2. noun

The gradual wearing away of a surface caused by friction or rubbing.

“Years of wind-blown sand caused abrasion on the cliff face.”

Opposites

accretion

How to use abrasion

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

minor abrasion surface abrasion abrasion resistance

Etymology

From Latin abrasio, "a scraping," rooted in abrado, "to scrape off" — the same source as the verb "abrade."

Full origin of abrasion →

Frequently asked questions

What does “abrasion” mean?

The word “abrasion” means a scraped area of skin where the surface has been rubbed or scratched off. In plain terms, damage caused by scraping or rubbing — whether it's a graze on skin or a rock surface worn smooth over time.

How do you pronounce “abrasion”?

“Abrasion” is pronounced uh-BRAY-zhuhn (/əˈbɹeɪ.ʒən/ in IPA).

How do you use “abrasion” in a sentence?

Here is “abrasion” used in a sentence: “He cleaned the abrasion on his knee after the fall.”

What part of speech is “abrasion”?

“Abrasion” is a noun.

Where does the word “abrasion” come from?

The word “abrasion” comes from Latin. From Latin abrasio, "a scraping," rooted in abrado, "to scrape off" — the same source as the verb "abrade.".

How many meanings does “abrasion” have?

“Abrasion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a scraped area of skin where the surface has been rubbed or scratched off.

Related words

abrade contusion laceration

People also searched

scratch grinding scrape attrition accretion corrasion detrition excoriation

Nearby words

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