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.
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Recent Examples of chafe
Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025
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
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
Other consequences include debilitating pain, sagging tissue and chafed skin.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Verb
On This may look like a low impact-worthy set, but the fabric is advanced enough for high-sweat sessions, offering chafe-free support and moisture-wicking capabilities.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025
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
Noun
The nation’s founders, having chafed under the abuses of George III, understood the twin dangers of an unchecked chief executive and a standing military.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
Other consequences include debilitating pain, sagging tissue and chafed skin.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
Verb
-
Jake Paul’s everyday unscented face wash avoids irritating fragrances but is infused with vitamin B3 to help keep your skin hydrated.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
-
Work exposures: If you are frequently exposed to irritating chemicals or substances, your risk of dermatitis is higher.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
29 June 2025
Verb
-
The deceased woman was also wearing a black necklace with a cross that family said belonged to DiNapoli, according to court documents.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
11 July 2025
-
Kemp says that having the Bryan brothers and Dabrowski wearing the product adds immediate credibility but also provides value to RIA when making product decisions.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Perhaps Trump just wanted to annoy his counterparts, especially those on the continent.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
14 July 2025
-
But Cotton, annoyed by Hank’s indirectness and emotion, browbeats his son.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Claiming persecution becomes more believable when it is coupled with the righteous indignation of the wronged.—
Lubna Zeidan,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
-
Some Trump allies have expressed skepticism — and at times outright indignation — at the idea of the U.S. involved in another conflict in the Middle East, while others have offered wholehearted support.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
The fabric performed very well in our abrasion test, and didn’t develop any pilling, thinning, or loose threads whatsoever.—
Kathleen Felton,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 June 2025
-
The abrasion test showed no tears or holes, with only slight color fading.—
Carrie Honaker,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
Verb
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He was scratched from a game in early May after experiencing soreness on his left side but started three days later.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
4 July 2025
-
Independence Day While the rest of the films on this list surely make sense, some might be scratching their heads on why a sci-fi film is considered to be one of the greatest Fourth of July films ever made.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
Verb
-
Now, this fundamental principle is at risk of being eroded.—
Philippa Pham Hughes,
Time,
11 July 2025
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Deals like these, which require OpenAI to sell stakes in the company, erode the nonprofit’s control of the business.—
Orson Aguilar,
Mercury News,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
There’s something delicious about sipping lemonade after a dip in the pool, looking down from the balcony at the day-trippers all hot and bothered below.—
Richard Godwin,
Travel + Leisure,
12 July 2025
-
Chisholm, the Yankees’ hottest hitter over the last month or so, has said that the shoulder bothers him more in the field than at the plate.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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