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.

materials

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

speech

harsh

Unpleasantly severe or rough

acerbic · cutting · acrimonious · strident · sardonic · tart · stinging · sharp · piercing · caustic

texture

rough

Uneven in surface

grainy · raspy · bristly · jagged · uneven · prickly · chafing · irritating · sandy · pebbly

personality

blunt

Dull or tactlessly direct

  • brusqueAbrupt and dismissive
  • causticChemically burning; bitterly mocking
  • curtAbruptly rude in speech

tactless · sharp-tongued · snarky · insensitive · dismissive · confrontational · crass · disagreeable · irritable · offensive

action

scrub

Clean by rubbing hard

file · sand · buff · grind · rub · chafe · polish · wear · erode · fret

Categories
Opposites
texture/physical surface quality

abrasivenesssmoothness

Freedom from irregularity

softness · silkiness · sleekness · polish · slipperiness

interpersonal manner/communication style

abrasivenessgentleness

Soft, kind demeanor

diplomacy · tact · graciousness · courteousness · politeness

effect on others

abrasivenessgentleness

Soft, kind demeanor

harmlessness · balm · salve

Family

abrasive, abrasion, abrade, erasure, abrasions, abrading, abrasively, abrasives, abraded

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G