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
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
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
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
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
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Verb
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
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
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
Verb
-
Molnar said the team wanted to design a system that avoided irritating brain tissue.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But Chelsea won’t have it, shutting the whole thing down in a way that clearly irritates her.—
Anne Victoria Clark,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Bachelor will always find a wife in six weeks, Kim and Khloe will always make up, and Chrishell and crew will always wear inappropriate outfits in a professional atmosphere.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Researchers have developed a new type of textile that can adjust its aerodynamic properties while worn on the body.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The situation could be taken as concerning for Alonso, given the precedents of previous Madrid coaches who have tried to impose a certain style of play, or who otherwise annoy superstar players used to having things more their own way.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
One report, citing a source close to Sheridan, even claimed the writer was annoyed that Paramount sent too many of its top suits to a meeting designed to keep Sheridan onboard, arguing that Ellison had messed up by bringing more than two execs along with him.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This explains the indignation of those carrying college debt who demanded Joe Biden make their loans go away.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
-
No one should forget that songs and lyrics, especially during dark and troubled times, can create awareness, be used to arouse indignation, even bring about social change.—
Ray Rahman,
Vulture,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Eileen Weir suffered multiple abrasions and bruises.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Back in 2019, Jeremy Stephens suffered a similar corneal abrasion in a fight with Yair Rodriguez and the UFC handed him a 180-day suspension.—
Antonio Losada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But people are hard-pressed to find any time, let alone 30 years, to scratch these interpersonal surfaces, Brackett explains.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Stein recommends avoiding using abrasive cleaners or tools that can scratch the stainless steel.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In particular, the city’s stormwater system is failing as pipes have eroded and caused sinkholes to pop up in some parts of the city.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Wiener introduced the bill, citing the growing number of vigilante and impersonation cases that had eroded trust in police.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That’s what bothers me about it.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The 20-year-old didn’t bother inspecting it further, threw it in the gutter and went on with her day.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share