How to Use abrasive in a Sentence

abrasive

1 of 2 adjective
  • The waves had an abrasive action on the rocks.
  • Rinse again, then scrub the carafe and the plunger with a non-abrasive sponge or brush.
    Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appétit, 10 Feb. 2023
  • At first, Kratos is a cold and abrasive presence in Atreus’s life.
    Jamal Michel, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2023
  • To avoid cracks and chips, don't scrape the surface with abrasive sponges or brushes.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2022
  • Body scrubs are a bit more abrasive and should be used once or twice per week, Dr. Jeffy says.
    Lacey Muinos, Health, 18 July 2023
  • The hair and hide are abrasive, quickly wearing down a blade’s fine edge.
    The Editors, Outside Online, 4 Nov. 2022
  • The abrasive limestone was one of the most challenging aspects of Rayu.
    Sasha Digiulian, Outside Online, 6 Dec. 2022
  • What if Kennedy’s abrasive crassness is not a detriment to his cause but, rather, part of the appeal?
    Charles McCrary, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2023
  • Truth be told, the track is so abrasive and bumpy that its condition triggered the plan to shorten the track.
    Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2022
  • There's a way to be powerful, and not be unattractive, or not be kind of abrasive.
    Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, 26 Oct. 2022
  • Below are two of the most common wheels used on a 4-1/2-inch angle grinder and an abrasive flap disc.
    Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2023
  • He is known for being kind of, of abrasive and thin skinned and a little bit prickly.
    Laura Johnston, cleveland, 28 Feb. 2022
  • Next, clean the wall's surface by wiping it down with a damp sponge or cloth and a mild, non-abrasive cleaner.
    Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2022
  • For all his shift-change bonhomie and diplomacy on the dais, O’Brien can be an abrasive force in the office.
    Nick Tabor, Washington Post, 19 June 2023
  • Enamel can still scratch, so steer clear of abrasive cleaning tools like steel wool.
    Taryn Mohrman, Good Housekeeping, 23 Mar. 2023
  • Suede is made using a technique called Sueding, in which an abrasive is applied to buff the surface of the hide.
    Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2022
  • That's because bristles start to wear out and become more abrasive on your gums.
    Kayla Hui, Health, 20 July 2023
  • With that said, I’ve always been drawn to darker, harder, more abrasive sounds.
    Jasmine Jones, SPIN, 28 Dec. 2022
  • However, in products where the crystals are more abrasive and large, the scrub should only be used a few days a week.
    Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2023
  • The fine particles can be abrasive, cling to surfaces, and pose risks to equipment and human health.
    Massimo Comparini, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2023
  • First, don't use a sponge or cloth with an abrasive texture; the material will scratch the stainless steel.
    Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 20 Mar. 2023
  • But Musk's sharp elbows came across as abrasive to Tesla's founders.
    Anne Sraders, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2022
  • Before each race, the teams carry out surface scans, to figure out how abrasive the track will be.
    Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2022
  • The group could sometimes be abrasive in its pursuit of the public’s attention.
    Jesse Barron, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
  • Most cleaners should be applied with a brush or a cloth, though be wary of an abrasive tool on hardside luggage.
    Nancy Einhart, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2023
  • Ashe is superb as the most abrasive of the pupils, a woman resentful of the rules and yet desperate for approval.
    Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2022
  • These devices use abrasive pads and electric motors to aid you in cleaning your floors.
    Tom Price, Popular Mechanics, 25 Aug. 2023
  • And since there’s not a lot of percussion, that element gets so abrasive.
    Vulture, 27 July 2023
  • However, toothbrush bristles are designed for the teeth, which may be too abrasive for the tongue.
    Lacey Muinos, Health, 23 Jan. 2023
  • The moon's fine, powdery rocks can be abrasive on a car's structural components.
    Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 10 June 2022
Advertisement

abrasive

2 of 2 noun
  • The first two stages use the diamond abrasives to hone knife edges, and then the third stage smooths and refines the blade.
    Meg Carney, Field & Stream, 21 Sep. 2023
  • The salt acts as an abrasive without damaging the pan's surface.
    Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 27 Aug. 2023
  • While the abrasive also has a big impact, slow-speed air sanders tend to bog down on softer surfaces like wood.
    Bob Beacham, chicagotribune.com, 12 Sep. 2020
  • This will act as a gentle abrasive and degreaser to work the stuck spots and pull all loose food particles.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2023
  • Though Clorox wipes are okay to use, Apple still advises against using bleach, aerosol sprays, and abrasives.
    Isabel Garcia, House Beautiful, 10 Mar. 2020
  • The tool has three sides, each with a different abrasive that’s designed for dry sharpening.
    Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 24 May 2023
  • Test sample: Low-carbon steel joined to form a T. Surface and end roughened by grinding with 60-grit abrasive.
    Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2023
  • Follow the same enamel and ceramic Dutch oven cleaning steps, avoiding the use of scouring pads, steel wool or abrasives.
    Taryn Mohrman, Good Housekeeping, 23 Mar. 2023
  • Stubborn marks may need a gentle abrasive that won't scratch off paint finishes.
    Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, 21 June 2023
  • Create a paste by combining an acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, and a mild abrasive, such as salt or baking soda.
    Julianne Hilmes Bartlett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
  • This is an electric sharpener that uses diamond discs as the abrasive to hone knives.
    Laura Denby, Peoplemag, 10 Oct. 2023
  • The gentle abrasives in these formulas will help loosen stubborn residue that needs a bit of a nudge but isn’t totally welded onto your glass.
    Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, 30 Apr. 2019
  • The Toothpaste Bits do claim to naturally whiten the teeth thanks to calcium carbonate (a mild abrasive to polish the surface).
    Emily Algar, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
  • Volcanic ash is angular and sharp and has been used as an industrial abrasive.
    Mark Thiessen, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Mar. 2023
  • As the video above explains, today’s manufactured toothpastes have abrasives in them, too.
    National Geographic, 15 Sep. 2016
  • When using a whitening toothpaste, always be sure to apply it with a soft or extra-soft bristled toothbrush to help counter the harsh abrasives in the paste that scrub off stains, says Sammadar.
    Brittany Loggins, Health.com, 22 Apr. 2020
  • That is, the profile of a surface roughened with abrasives provides saw-blade-like teeth that mechanically lock with the adhesive around them.
    Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2023
  • The three main types — electric, manual and sharpening stones — work by shaping the knife's edge with a coarse abrasive, then polishing it with a finer abrasive.
    Samantha MacAvoy, Good Housekeeping, 31 July 2023
  • About 15 percent of the most finely ground glass — which isn’t good for bottlemakers — will be sent to secondary markets for use in abrasives, large water filters and concrete coatings, Lair said.
    The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2017
  • These cleaners contain ingredients that loosen spills of various types plus very fine abrasives (even though they are labeled as nonabrasive).
    Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2023
  • Even non-whitening version often contain chemicals and abrasives that can make acne worse.
    Lauren Hubbard, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Aug. 2017
  • Even non-whitening version often contain chemicals and abrasives that can make acne worse.
    Lauren Hubbard, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Aug. 2017
  • Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that cleans surfaces without scratching.
    Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, 17 Aug. 2021
  • Specifically, the multi-heavy mineral prospect consists of abrasives garne and epidote, and zircon, magnetite and gold.
    Elwood Brehmer, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Nov. 2019
  • Instead, the formula uses hydrated silica as a mild abrasive, plus xylitol to ward off plaque buildup.
    Sam Peters, ELLE, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Like the electric model, this pick also features diamond abrasives and a specialized slot for polishing your knife after it has been sharpened.
    Samantha MacAvoy, Good Housekeeping, 31 July 2023
  • In addition to the actual material, many abrasives come with different levels of grit.
    Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 24 May 2023
  • The technique will also be used on electrical and electronic components, bearings, vehicle components, engine parts, pipes, tubing, hose and fittings, and hardware and abrasives.
    Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 21 Nov. 2016
  • In the meantime, consumers can protect themselves by being more conservative when using abrasives such as facial scrubs, or harsh products containing glycolic, salicylic or retinoic acid, Day said.
    Dennis Thompson, chicagotribune.com, 28 June 2017
  • Primary microplastics include resin pellets that are melted down to manufacture plastic products—also known as nurdles—and microbeads added to products such as cosmetics, soaps, and toothpaste as abrasives.
    National Geographic, 16 May 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abrasive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: