rasp 1 of 2

noun

Definition of raspnext
as in scratch
a harsh grating sound the rusted lock opened with a rasp

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rasp

2 of 2

verb

ˈrasp How to pronounce rasp (audio)
1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction after sawing the board in half, rasp the ends to remove any splinters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to scratch
to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface the sound of fingernails rasping on the blackboard makes me cringe

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3
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts the two siblings seemed intent on rasping each other for the entire car trip

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4
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction during the last ice age, glaciers rasped the surface, leaving the deeply scarred rock

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rasp
Noun
In this case, there’s not much in the way of medication that can help; Dr. Mercado notes that OTC drugs haven’t actually been proven effective for softening a bad rasp. — Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Feb. 2025 Vernon also lent his signature rasp to collaborations with some of the biggest stars in music, from Taylor Swift, Travis Scott, and Charli XCX. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
And then Elisabeth uses it, and her spine splits open, leaving her a rasping husk of flesh while an alternate self rises, in the dewy buff, to survey her taut flesh with a clinical eye in the mirror. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024 What endures is the rasping byplay, the soaring exasperation, the tango of opposing temperaments finding fleeting common ground. — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for rasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp
  1. scratch
  2. rub
  3. scrape
  4. annoy
  5. wear
  6. creak
  7. file
  8. bug
Noun
  • Nearly 80 Tesla vehicles parked outside the dealership had been damaged, including deep scratches and punctured tires, police relayed in a news release.
    — Kate Gibson, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Two weeks to design a team from scratch that could win in the brutally competitive Big Ten Conference and return Maryland to the NCAA Tournament.
    — Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Thinking fast, the kid rubs his fists in broken glass, instantly upgrading his wimpy, untrained knuckles into deadly weapons.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The seams don't rub, even with a heavy pack on, and the cut is roomy without being too baggy.
    — Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of rub
Verb
  • The agent scrapes Google News and other sources for the latest updates and news that might interest his subscribers.
    — Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The right wing then scraped the ground and broke off at the fuselage, releasing a cloud of jet fuel that caught fire as the airplane overturned and moved down the runway.
    — David Schaper, NPR, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of scrape
Verb
  • With Connecticut facing the possibility of exceeding the cap by $61 million, Lamont is reining in spending, annoying some liberal Democrats who note that the state is simultaneously looking at a budget surplus.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Also keeping with that theme are tons of Marvel references to the point that Mara (who starred in 2015’s Fantastic Four) was likely getting annoyed.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • One protester, wearing a keffiyeh, was tackled to the ground by two officers during his arrest.
    — Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Bieber, who is an ambassador for the French fashion house, attended the show wearing her dark hair pulled up in an easy, cool twist styled by Bryce Scarlett.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of wear
Noun
  • The set is a ship’s deck that tilts and creaks ominously while a screen plays eerily textured footage of a roiling ocean.
    — Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
  • The boat moves and creaks, the sails flutter in the wind, and the crew gives a lusty hurrah as the course is set for Singapore.
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of creak
Verb
  • Weiss, 42, was charged with 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of identity theft after purportedly hacking thousands of accounts to download intimate photos and videos, according to an indictment filed in federal court Thursday.
    — David Matthews, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Attempt to block footage release Hackman’s estate filed a petition last week attempting to block the release of any photos or video footage from inside the home, according to a copy of the legal filing obtained by CNN at the time.
    — Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of file
Verb
  • The movie's famous final scene sees Hackman's character playing the saxophone after his paranoia has led him to destroy his entire apartment to see if it was bugged.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Drew played in our first game and had a good game versus Santa Teresa, but he’s got a shoulder injury that’s been bugging him.
    — Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Definition of bug

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Cite this Entry

“Rasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasp. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rasp

Nglish: Translation of rasp for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rasp

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