1
2
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction
constant stepping on a rope will gradually chafe it, rendering it unsafe for rock climbing
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
nothing chafes us so much as those telemarketers who call during the dinner hour
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in indignation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abrasion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chafe
J. David Goodman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
It's also given Zuckerberg a way to loudly hit back at a Biden administration that revived the lawsuit — and the confidence to scrap content moderation and workplace culture policies that appear to have privately chafed him for years.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 27 Nov. 2024
Malkovich’s subdued and convincing performance, defined by a low and drawn-out intonation, chafes against Green’s verbose screenplay.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Verb
Privately, Republicans in the Legislature have chafed at the measure, said Tyler Powell, a Republican political consultant in Oklahoma.
—J. David Goodman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
It's also given Zuckerberg a way to loudly hit back at a Biden administration that revived the lawsuit — and the confidence to scrap content moderation and workplace culture policies that appear to have privately chafed him for years.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
Add a moisture-wicking, chafe-preventing stick or powder to your routine, like Mega Babe’s Thigh Rescue or old faithful, Gold Bond Body Powder, to sop up excess wetness before discomfort occurs.
—Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 27 Nov. 2024
Malkovich’s subdued and convincing performance, defined by a low and drawn-out intonation, chafes against Green’s verbose screenplay.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
Verb
-
These ingredients can irritate the digestive tract, the bladder, or the teeth for people who are sensitive to them.—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
1 May 2025
-
Chronic inflammation has been shown to irritate blood vessels and can lead to the hardening of fatty plaques in the lining of the arteries, which reduces blood flow to the heart.—
Liz Szabo,
Scientific American,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
For me, that means flying out of and into the same airports, using the same airline, sitting in the same seat number on both flights, and wearing my favorite travel pants: the G4Free Wide-leg Pants.—
Emily Belfiore,
Travel + Leisure,
11 May 2025
-
Some, including Yamal, covered themselves with their hoodies and strategically wore headphones over their ears.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
Easily annoyed by noises like gum smacking or cereal slurping.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
-
The controversy over attire comes just two months after Zelensky was criticized and called disrespectful by a reporter at the White House for not wearing a suit during his visit to the Oval Office, with reports suggesting that Trump was annoyed by Zelensky's choice of clothing.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The result was an outpouring of delighted indignation and anti-Corden sentiment, complete with an extended tabloid news cycle.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
-
With Chrome, OpenAI would gain access to a treasure trove of user behavior data — data that might fuel its large language models but also trigger indignation from privacy activists.—
Tor Constantino, MBA,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Medical examiner found Nichols' cause of death was homicide Dr. Marco Ross, the chief medical examiner for the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center, said Nichols had multiple injuries including abrasions and bruises across his body.—
Jack Armstrong,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
Material innovations include nylon blends that help denim reduce abrasion and reflective denim for safety.—
SJ Studio,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Now, the man who is tied for the most Kentucky Derby wins (six) is back, though one of his two entries was scratched Thursday.—
Teresa Genaro,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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The field for the 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby was reduced to 19 by Friday after two horses were scratched with potential complications, including one colt trained by legendary trainer Bob Baffert.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
Yes, the minerals in hard water stains can eventually erode the metal fixtures and scratch the glass and tiles.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
10 May 2025
-
But the collisions were brutal, eroding Means’ game in short time.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 May 2025
Verb
-
Travel delays don’t bother Blues The Blues got stuck in Winnipeg after Game 5 due to an issue with the plane that was bringing them back to St. Louis.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
Luckily, my dog doesn’t bother the plants—except the ones in the garden—but this plant stand gives me peace of mind anyway.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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