chafe 1 of 2

verb

ˈchāf How to pronounce chafe (audio)
Definition of chafenext
1
as in to irritate
to make sore by continued rubbing ill-fitting boots that had badly chafed my heels

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

chafe

2 of 2

noun

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chafe
Verb
These walking-friendly shoes have cushioned insoles, arch support, and chafe-resistant details. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026 It must be made from a comfortable material that won’t chafe or otherwise irritate the skin. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Noun
What follows is an absurd reckoning that mixes surreal humor and domestic drama as Shula chafes against her relatives’ hysterical funeral planning. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2025 Zwick is such a conventional filmmaker that DiCaprio chafes trying to break out of the Reluctant Hero straitjacket Zwick puts him in. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
  1. irritate
  2. wear
  3. annoy
  4. indignation
  5. abrasion
  6. scratch
  7. erode
  8. bother
Verb
  • Lemon water can irritate teeth or stomach in large amounts and may need to be limited in people with advanced kidney disease who have fluid or potassium restrictions.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Few things at airports irritate customers like filthy toilets or water on the restroom floor.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • Holmes opted for one of her must-have brands, wearing a layered and textured, silk cotton organza strapless dress from Fforme.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Some more images show Kidman, Bullock, 62, King, 26, and Williams, 29, wearing flowing gowns while hooked onto wires, seemingly filming a scene that involves flying, in front of a blue screen.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of wear
Verb
  • At the Glenn-Mills trial in Los Angeles, Meta attorneys repeatedly hammered witnesses about the lack of a listing — at times appearing to annoy jurors and test the patience of the court.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
  • During his last visit to Tehran in 2012, Aryan Diba enjoyed the sweeping hospitality of the city, but was annoyed when he and a group of friends were disrupted by local authorities while talking to a group of women at a local fast food joint.
    — Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of annoy
Noun
  • Mind you, Miss Manners agrees with your indignation at this fraudulent maneuver.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
  • And Anne Hathaway, in a bravura performance, situates Penelope on an emotional precipice, caught between indecision and indignation, between yearning for her husband and a palpable disgust with the alternatives.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
Definition of indignation
Noun
  • Designed to be abrasion and tear-resistant, these are shorts made for the long haul.
    — Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Stone washing requires pumice stones, frictional abrasion and industrial washing machines to beat up and break down denim to a more desirable soft and vintage effect.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
Definition of abrasion
Verb
  • After the bullpen had to cover all nine innings Saturday when Griffin Jax was scratched from a scheduled start due to elbow discomfort, Seymour worked six solid innings, allowing a first-inning run and nothing else.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Many scratched their heads when the Codex Micro was announced.
    — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the soil surrounding the house is eroding and the structure is sinking.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Over the past eighty years, parts have eroded down the slope.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • The one issue that is bothering me at or just before launch is the CPU's Wear and Tear management.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As if the constant barrage of political ads wasn't enough, some WCCO viewers are particularly bothered by the language candidates are using.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of bother

Browse Nearby Words

cestus
chafe
chafed
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Cite this Entry

“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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