abrasive

comparative more abrasive · superlative most abrasive

1. Producing abrasion; rough enough to wear away the outer surface.First known use First attested in 1805.
2. Being rough and coarse in manner or disposition; overly aggressive and causing irritation.First known use First attested in 1925.

   An abrasive person can grate on one's sensibilities.

   2 more examples

   Despite her proper upbringing, we found her manners to be terribly abrasive.

   The women of the movement, it struck me, were more humorless and more single-minded in their total dedication to the ideology than were the men. In fact, Chiang Ching was unpleasantly abrasive and aggressive. At one point that evening she turned to me and in a challenging voice asked, "Why did you not come to China before now?" Since the ballet was in progress at the time, I did not respond.

   1978, Richard Nixon, RN: the Memoirs of Richard Nixon, Grosset & Dunlap, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 570

   Synonyms: cutting

plural abrasives

1. A hard inorganic substance or material consisting in powder or granule form such as sandpaper, pumice, or emery, used for cleaning, smoothing, or polishing.First known use First attested in the mid 19ᵗʰ century.
2. geographyRock fragments, sand grains, mineral particles, used by water, wind, and ice to abrade a land surface.