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
Mark Dee
march 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
Even in the sticky days of summer, the supple leather uppers never rub the wrong way or cause your feet to sweat or chafe.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
The soft details include a tagless design and chafe-free stitching, and the crew neck retains its shape well.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Verb
Others chafed at pre-empting local rules.
—Mark Dee
march 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
Even in the sticky days of summer, the supple leather uppers never rub the wrong way or cause your feet to sweat or chafe.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
The soft details include a tagless design and chafe-free stitching, and the crew neck retains its shape well.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
Verb
-
Strong cleaning products may irritate sensitive airways and skin.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Oklahoma City is irritating, but never stops winning.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Los Angeles County deputies arrested a man last week after he was spotted on a Rancho Palos Verdes hiking trail armed with multiple guns and wearing body armor.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The picture appeared to have been taken during one of Justin's rehearsal days, as Hailey wore the same black crop top and gray sweats in a video of her dancing while Justin took the stage.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most gnats cause little harm but annoy us to no end.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Getting dropped to Division 3 this season does annoy the Scotties.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Surely there was something more beneath all this mild pleasantness, some edge of resentment, a few shards of indignation on the brink of cutting through.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
To his astonishment — and culinary indignation — the screen returned an absolute void.—
Paula Soria,
AZCentral.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Bednar was diagnosed with facial fractures and a corneal abrasion, but is expected to make a full recovery without surgery.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The team said that Bednar suffered facial fractures and a corneal abrasion, but is expected to make a full recovery, without needing surgery, and be back on the bench for the playoffs.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Rays also had a bullpen day Tuesday when Drew Rasmussen was scratched for the earlier-than-expected birth of his daughter.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Taveras was in the starting lineup after Tyler O’Neill was scratched with an illness.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The staggering human toll in Gaza, ongoing West Bank settlement expansion, another incursion into Lebanon, and a darkening war with Iran eroded support among younger Americans—even as Washington remains Israel’s indispensable security partner.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Candidates also get favorable rates for television ads so their money goes further than independent expenditures by outside groups, though that advantage is eroding as ad spending increasingly shifts toward digital streaming.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Heat’s third matchup of the season against the Raptors didn’t go well either, as Toronto’s length on the defensive end again bothered Miami.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Along the way, Melton strained his left thumb — and that clearly bothered him.—
Ron Kroichick,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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