abrasiveness
Coarse, grating quality
Abrasiveness is the quality of being rough or harsh.
Physically, it describes how effectively a material scrapes or wears down surfaces: The abrasiveness of the sandpaper determines how quickly it removes paint.
Applied to people or manner, abrasiveness suggests an irritating bluntness that rubs others the wrong way: His abrasiveness alienated potential allies.
Abrasive-coated finishing material
- pumiceLightweight volcanic abrasive
- emeryGranular polishing mineral
- grindstoneRotating stone for sharpening
- whetstoneStone for sharpening blades
corundum · diamond dust · alumina · garnet · flint · carborundum · steel wool · scouring pad
Unpleasantly severe or rough
- bitingHarshly critical or cold
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
- vitriolicHarshly bitter and corrosive
- acerbicSharp and biting
cutting · acrimonious · strident · sardonic · tart · stinging · sharp · piercing
Uneven in surface
- coarseRough in texture
- grittyCoarse or courageous
- scratchyRough and irritating
- grainyRough with particles
raspy · bristly · jagged · uneven · prickly · chafing · irritating · sandy
Dull or tactlessly direct
- brusqueAbrupt and dismissive
- causticChemically burning; bitterly mocking
- curtAbruptly rude in speech
- tactlessInsensitive in manner
sharp-tongued · snarky · insensitive · dismissive · confrontational · crass · disagreeable · irritable
sandpaper
Abrasive-coated finishing material
- pumiceLightweight volcanic abrasive
- emeryGranular polishing mineral
- grindstoneRotating stone for sharpening
whetstone · corundum · diamond dust · alumina · garnet · flint · carborundum · steel wool · scouring pad · lava rock
harsh
Unpleasantly severe or rough
- bitingHarshly critical or cold
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
- vitriolicHarshly bitter and corrosive
acerbic · cutting · acrimonious · strident · sardonic · tart · stinging · sharp · piercing · caustic
rough
Uneven in surface
grainy · raspy · bristly · jagged · uneven · prickly · chafing · irritating · sandy · pebbly
blunt
Dull or tactlessly direct
tactless · sharp-tongued · snarky · insensitive · dismissive · confrontational · crass · disagreeable · irritable · offensive
scrub
Clean by rubbing hard
file · sand · buff · grind · rub · chafe · polish · wear · erode · fret
- roughnessroughness, coarseness, grittiness, bumpiness, scratchiness
- harshnessseverity, roughness, sternness, sharpness, hardness
- audacityboldness, brazenness, audacity, chutzpah, gall
- bad traitsmeanness, rudeness, cruelty, dishonesty, hostility
- intimidation traitsaggression, dominance, hostility, ruthlessness, fierceness
abrasivenesssmoothness
Freedom from irregularity
softness · silkiness · sleekness · polish · slipperiness
abrasivenessgentleness
Soft, kind demeanor
diplomacy · tact · graciousness · courteousness · politeness
abrasive, abrasion, abrade, erasure, abrasions, abrading, abrasively, abrasives, abraded