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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in abrasion
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of chafe
Korok Ray, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Then, the rotten cherry on top: my lightweight pack, overburdened with water and ill-equipped for the task, created a patch of chafe that eventually bloomed into an open wound.
—Shawnté Salabert, Outside Online, 28 Mar. 2025
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Lee believes a key factor is that Korean society has no predominant religion but a smattering of similarly sized faiths that maintain a balanced following without chafing against each other.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Verb
And this chafes against Bitcoin’s underlying ethos of decentralization.
—Korok Ray, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Then, the rotten cherry on top: my lightweight pack, overburdened with water and ill-equipped for the task, created a patch of chafe that eventually bloomed into an open wound.
—Shawnté Salabert, Outside Online, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
Leila, emotionally wounded by her older sister’s death, enjoys recreational drugs and skipping class with Abbie, who is chafing against her controlling parents.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Lee believes a key factor is that Korean society has no predominant religion but a smattering of similarly sized faiths that maintain a balanced following without chafing against each other.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
Verb
-
The formula was comfortable and didn’t irritate my skin or leave any residue.—
Essence,
Essence,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The lord didn’t much care for that, which of course only made Heinzelmann want to irritate him further.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That’s the estimate for Coppola’s unique watch, which the Godfather director wore at the Cannes premiere of Megalopolis.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Crews wear thermal base layers, overalls, and analog spacesuits when working outdoors.—
Rosanna Philpott,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While Johnson had plenty to be pleased with, he was annoyed by the number of penalties and said the offense has to do a better job of running the football.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
25 Oct. 2025
-
They’re built not to resist developers but, as their name suggests, they’re intentionally designed, with a degree of malice, to annoy someone specific.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
She was resigned to her fate, helpless with indignation.—
Jack O'Connor,
Outdoor Life,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Steeped in dread and indignation, Watcher is feminist horror that imagines what Rear Window would be like if Jimmy Stewart were constantly talked over and dismissed.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In terms of the types of injuries sustained, 35% were periocular lacerations (cuts near the eye), 16% were corneal abrasions, iritis (inflammation of the iris, the colored part of the eye) accounted for 8%, and contusions/bruises 5%.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
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An autopsy conducted on Campbell revealed significant amount of bruising and abrasions to the boy's head, face, torso, back and extremities.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Additionally, acrylic and fiberglass are not as durable as cast iron and can scratch more easily.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
-
And that’s just scratching the surface.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Attendees were given 3 minutes to speak, same as in the commissioners court, and primarily spoke about jail deaths and the freedom of speech being eroded.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Oct. 2025
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Even as streaming has eroded the ranks of linear viewers in primetime, sports has built new bulwarks.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Not the kind of thrift store that’s actually thrifty, but the kind of thrift store that doesn’t have any price tags because the people who can afford to shop there don’t need to bother themselves with price tags.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Being a double Viking with Swedish and Norman blood on each side of my family, the cold never bothered me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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