1
2
as in eroded
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 annoyed
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chafed
Those Cubs teams were full of veterans who often chafed at Lou Piniella’s old-school managing ways but won anyway, at least until the postseason.
—
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Council members have long chafed at their exclusion from an intergovernmental agreement between the city and MARTA that dictates how decisions are made within the More MARTA program established by voters in a 2016 referendum.
—Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Consumers have chafed at some of the company’s integration of ESPN Unlimited, which is relying on cable providers to grant access to their subscribers and is absorbing some content that used to be available at no additional cost to traditional ESPN+ subscribers.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2026
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
During a video conference call Tuesday, the Texas women’s basketball coach glowed about his club’s offensive prowess but chafed over a question about its suspect 3-point shooting and lamented the team’s turnovers and toughness deficiency.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Jan. 2026
In 2023, the writer Patricia Lockwood chafed at Wallace’s supposed sainthood in a long piece for the London Review of Books.
—Hermione Hoby, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Young people have chafed under conservative rule and the stifling of political freedoms.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Council members have long chafed at their exclusion from an intergovernmental agreement between the city and MARTA that dictates how decisions are made within the More MARTA program established by voters in a 2016 referendum.
—Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Consumers have chafed at some of the company’s integration of ESPN Unlimited, which is relying on cable providers to grant access to their subscribers and is absorbing some content that used to be available at no additional cost to traditional ESPN+ subscribers.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2026
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
During a video conference call Tuesday, the Texas women’s basketball coach glowed about his club’s offensive prowess but chafed over a question about its suspect 3-point shooting and lamented the team’s turnovers and toughness deficiency.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Jan. 2026
In 2023, the writer Patricia Lockwood chafed at Wallace’s supposed sainthood in a long piece for the London Review of Books.
—Hermione Hoby, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Young people have chafed under conservative rule and the stifling of political freedoms.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafed
Verb
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Last year the City Council changed the process for appeals, which irritated some of the commissioners.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The Knicks would beat the Magic, but Orlando’s physicality has irritated New York over the past two seasons.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When inflation cools, investors typically demand lower yields on long-term bonds because their future returns are less likely to be eroded by rising prices.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Vaccines protect, but public trust has eroded One of the best benefits of the pandemic is innovation in vaccines.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One who grew up respectful but annoyed by the success the league previously had in Seattle.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
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Social media reactions to the bunny range from enamored to amused to annoyed at the price tag, which runs from $112 to $140.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Keeping your electronics separated is an excellent way to avoid scratched screens and tangled cables.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
When agents reemerged, many of them were scratched and bleeding from navigating the heavy brush.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The hosts at Peacock Alley wore floor-length dresses with golden paillettes that would not be amiss on an Emmys red carpet.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
One guest wore lettuce on his head, another had a bird’s nest in her antlers, and a third donned a pineapple on top of a wire basket.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Korda was bothered by back pain starting in the second set, but played through the pain.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
-
This might make observers wonder why Lee even bothered to introduce the measure.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But that sense of belonging has frayed.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
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As the alerts frayed the nerves of residents, and the air defense system proved its mettle, the UAE authorities changed their approach.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Three people told the Washington Examiner that Scott had become paranoid that Lewandowski was spying on him through his work phone and had bugged his office.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Mar. 2026
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Underwood went on The Bachelor as a straight man, made a connection with Randolph, broke up with her, bugged her car, and then was hit with a restraining order.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chafed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafed. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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