Sandpapery

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having a rough, gritty texture similar to that of abrasive paper used for smoothing surfaces ; possessing qualities that cause friction or irritation when touched ; resembling the coarse feel or harshness associated with a sandy, abrasive material
2. Characterized by a grainy texture that is uneven and scratchy like abrasive sheets ; describing a sensation that is harsh and can wear down surfaces upon contact ; evoking the roughness or scratchy quality typical of sanding tools
3. Exhibiting a coarse and abrasive surface quality akin to paper coated with rough particles ; relating to a tactile experience that is scratchy and uncomfortable to the skin ; imitating the uneven, gritty nature of materials designed for polishing or smoothing rough surfaces

Etymology: Sandpapery is a plain formation: the noun "sandpaper" with the adjective-forming suffix "-y" added, meaning "like sandpaper." The suffix is an old and productive English one, and it attaches easily to nouns for materials and textures, as in "papery," "leathery," and "silky." The base word itself is a compound of "sand" and "paper," so the adjective ultimately describes a surface that feels like grit-coated paper used to smooth wood or metal. The word's sense rests on the abrasive paper it names. Because the noun describes a tool whose defining quality is roughness, the adjective carries that quality over to skin, voices, fabric or any surface that scrapes the hand. Its meaning therefore depends entirely on the physical object it is built from, which is why it is most often used for sensations rather than for anything literally sandy.

Synonyms: abrasive, rough, gritty, coarse, scratchy

Antonyms: smooth, soft, silky, polished, gentle