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
Dan Primack, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
That’s a world in which Democrats might be able to actually pare back the GOP majority to 51 and embolden Republican senators who are already chafing under the MAGA yoke.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
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Taylor Swift Makes History as Most Decorated Artist at Billboard Awards
Mufasa: The Lion King
The Bottom Line Enterprising direction chafes against a confused narrative.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Verb
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
That’s a world in which Democrats might be able to actually pare back the GOP majority to 51 and embolden Republican senators who are already chafing under the MAGA yoke.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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
Related Stories Business Judge Rules Against Disney-Fox-Warner Sports Streamer As FuboTV's Lawsuit Advances
News
Taylor Swift Makes History as Most Decorated Artist at Billboard Awards
Mufasa: The Lion King
The Bottom Line Enterprising direction chafes against a confused narrative.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
Verb
-
Pairing some active ingredients can irritate the skin, and other combinations may reduce the effectiveness of the ingredients.1 1.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
18 Apr. 2025
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This can be particularly irritating to eczema-prone skin.—
Sierra Leone Starks,
Allure,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Famously, stage and film star Sir Sean Connery openly discussed wearing a headpiece in all of his James Bond roles.—
Rhiannon Frater,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Chrissy was a classy birthday girl, wearing a beige corset-style skirt and top with a matching trench coat and sunglasses.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Seiders, 44, is charged with felony child pornography possession, misdemeanor annoying a child under 18, concealing a camera with intent to invade privacy and attempting to conceal a camera.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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What annoyed me was good old-fashioned stupid gameplay.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Smithsonian, the vast complex of museums that millions of Americans visit every year to see Lincoln’s top hat, the Spirit of St. Louis, Harriet Tubman’s shawl, a moon rock, and Dorothy’s ruby slippers, is at the center of the executive order’s indignation.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2025
-
In a moment of feigned indignation, Sandler threatened to storm out of the ceremony, which prompted O'Brien to apologize for his attack.—
Edward Segarra,
USA TODAY,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
At the gas station, officers discovered a naked woman, covered in abrasions, who was in need of immediate medical assistance, according to court documents obtained by the outlet.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Another student, Faraaz Qureshi, said he was hit with rubber bullets four times, causing a severe open fracture in his finger and contusions and abrasions on his chest and back.—
Joe Kottke,
NBC news,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But the contradiction was apparent for anyone willing to scratch the surface: the three public suspensions and one defection from the Pentagon’s top ranks were all, until very recently, Hegseth loyalists.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
22 Apr. 2025
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The surface of a cat tree is usually covered in a textured, carpet-like material for scratching.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The other is a more nebulous worry that programmable money, by definition, erodes individual autonomy.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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There is no question that high tariffs will erode Chinese exporters’ access to the U.S. market.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow was popular enough that fans wanted a solo story, but the studio didn't bother to make it until her character was already dead in the major timeline, then skipped the theatrical release, which Johansson sued them about.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
19 Apr. 2025
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The Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night in Sacramento, 120-106; the Mavs led by more than 20 points in the first half, and the Kings never bothered to muster much of a run to make this interesting.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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