Abrasive particles comprising ceramic (including glasses, crystalline ceramics, and glass-ceramics) comprising (on a theoretical oxide basis) Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and at least one other metal oxide (e.g., REO and; REO and at least one of ZrO.sub.2 or HfO.sub.2) and methods of making the same. The abrasive particles can be incorporated into a variety of abrasive articles, including bonded abrasives, coated abrasives, nonwoven abrasives, and abrasive brushes.