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
Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
The same ambition that chafed SCLC leaders also led Jackson to make a run for the Democratic Party's nomination for president in 1984 and 1988.
—Zoe Christen Jones, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
Thoughtfully designed to include zip pockets to keep your personal items safe and flat seams to reduce chafe, the shorts are well-made.
—Caitlyn Martyn
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, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Verb
Advocates for those districts have also chafed at the proposal to allow magnet school tuition to rise.
—Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
The same ambition that chafed SCLC leaders also led Jackson to make a run for the Democratic Party's nomination for president in 1984 and 1988.
—Zoe Christen Jones, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
Thoughtfully designed to include zip pockets to keep your personal items safe and flat seams to reduce chafe, the shorts are well-made.
—Caitlyn Martyn
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, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
Verb
-
The slag contained high concentrations of heavy metals and silicate material that, like tiny particles of glass, could be inhaled and irritate the lungs.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Wear gloves to avoid irritating your skin.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Law enforcement later found Diagne - who was fatally shot by police - was wearing a T-shirt stamped with an Iranian flag design, according to a source.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Mia Goth chose a red and black lace overlay frock, with delicate drop earrings and her brunette locks loose around her, opting to wear her fringe center parted.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last Sunday, the broadcast showed a perplexed, annoyed Wells who thought his team went missing.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Nevertheless, Jude would be annoyed.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The other parents joined them, one or two echoing the incredulity, a mixture of fake consternation, mild indignation, and real pride.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The crosswalk’s removal sparked indignation in Celeste Padilla, who lives nearby.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, its leaves, fruits, and roots are all highly toxic whether eaten or just brushed up against if there's an open wound or abrasion.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The cop suffered a corneal abrasion, burning and redness to her eyes and pain to her face and head, according to the complaint.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Doomed to play without their superstar, JuJu Watkins, the Trojans still managed to scratch and claw their way to a 17-12 record and a certain spot in the NCAA tournament.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Foil can also scratch the enamel of your oven.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Blue Owl is a significant direct lender to the sector, which has been shaken by concerns that rapidly advancing AI tools could erode traditional SaaS business models.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
-
On her island home in the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, the shoreline has visibly retreated within her short lifetime, with beaches eroded, coastal trees uprooted and some homes now barely 3 feet (about 1 meter) from the sea at high tide.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Up until the past decade or so, food critics seldom bothered to write about casual cafes such as Zip's, instead focusing on the newest shiny-object restaurants in town.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Mar. 2026
-
None of that seems to have bothered Trump.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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