abrasive
/əˈbɹeɪ.sɪv/
Group 34Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh; tending to rub or graze the skin GRE
Example in Context
The manager's abrasive personality drove away talented employees who refused to endure her constant and withering criticism.
Etymology
Something that scrapes away, often harshly.
- ab- (Latin) — away from
- radere (Latin) — to scrape
Memory Aid
🌊Sounds like “a bracing wave”
Imagine a WAVE that’s so ABRASIVE, it scrubs barnacles off boats like it’s cleaning a kitchen!
Visual Association
🪨A rough rock scraping against a smooth surface, leaving a mark as evidence.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “abrasive” mean on the GRE?
abrasive (adjective) means “Showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh; tending to rub or graze the skin”. The manager's abrasive personality drove away talented employees who refused to endure her constant and withering criticism.
How to remember “abrasive” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “abrasive” sounds like “a bracing wave”. Imagine a WAVE that’s so ABRASIVE, it scrubs barnacles off boats like it’s cleaning a kitchen!