abrades
Wears down gradually
Abrades is the third-person singular of abrade, meaning to wear away by friction or scraping.
Skin abrades against rough surfaces.
Sandpaper abrades wood.
The word extends to emotional wearing down: Constant criticism abrades the spirit.
The related noun is abrasion.
Cause mild irritation
- aggravateMake more severe
- exasperateAnnoy to frustration
- irkTo mildly vex
- vexTo irritate persistently
Abrasive-coated finishing material
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- emeryGranular polishing mineral
- scourClean by hard rubbing
- scrubClean by rubbing hard
pumice · file · rasp · sandblast · exfoliate · buff · grinder · sander
Gradual wearing away
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- degradationDecline in condition
decay · attrition · wearing · thinning · depletion · weathered · eroded · worn
annoy
Cause mild irritation
- aggravateMake more severe
- exasperateAnnoy to frustration
- irkTo mildly vex
vex · grate · chafe · nettle · rankle · rasp · gall · rub · fray · wear down
sandpaper
Abrasive-coated finishing material
scrub · pumice · file · rasp · sandblast · exfoliate · buff · grinder · sander · coarse
erosion
Gradual wearing away
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
degradation · decay · attrition · wearing · thinning · depletion · weathered · eroded · worn · pitted
rubbing
Applying pressure while moving
fretting · galling · scratching · scraping · resistance · grinding · wearing · contact · surface · raw
- erodeserodes, corrodes, wears down, wears out, eats away