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
Several also chafed at the idea that Iowa officials would likely try to hold their caucus first, regardless of whether the DNC gave them the go-ahead.
—
Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
In the years after, quotas were largely restored – but Opec’s ability to affect world prices was relatively limited, and poorer members often chafed at the restrictions.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 May 2026
But the announcement April 28 that the United Arab Emirates was leaving OPEC caps years of tension where the desert state chafed under the cartel’s quotas, and recently, encountered severe strain in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, the group’s most potent force by far.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Local officials have often chafed at state leaders’ willingness to impose themselves on the city, whether on police control, guns or housing rules.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026
Perhaps Fogel, a fervent leftist, chafed at having to celebrate the family, that bourgeois institution.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
After Musk’s departure, Amodei and other researchers chafed against the leadership of Brockman, whom some considered an abrasive operator, and of Sutskever, who was generally viewed as principled but disorganized.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Some have also chafed at the increasing symbiosis between the paper and WBFF.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Others chafed at pre-empting local rules.
—Mark Dee
march 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
In the years after, quotas were largely restored – but Opec’s ability to affect world prices was relatively limited, and poorer members often chafed at the restrictions.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 May 2026
But the announcement April 28 that the United Arab Emirates was leaving OPEC caps years of tension where the desert state chafed under the cartel’s quotas, and recently, encountered severe strain in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, the group’s most potent force by far.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Local officials have often chafed at state leaders’ willingness to impose themselves on the city, whether on police control, guns or housing rules.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026
Perhaps Fogel, a fervent leftist, chafed at having to celebrate the family, that bourgeois institution.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
After Musk’s departure, Amodei and other researchers chafed against the leadership of Brockman, whom some considered an abrasive operator, and of Sutskever, who was generally viewed as principled but disorganized.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Some have also chafed at the increasing symbiosis between the paper and WBFF.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Others chafed at pre-empting local rules.
—Mark Dee
march 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafed
Verb
-
It is expected that Mourinho will try to tighten control over leaks concerning internal dressing-room matters, something that has irritated the club this season — and which Alonso sought to tackle.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Even though the calf irritated him over the weekend, the ankle is still the primary problem.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
While Google canceled its plan to fully deprecate third-party cookies in Chrome, opting instead for a user-choice model, the signal has already been significantly eroded.—
John Readman,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Corbett says that deputy gangs do not exist in the department, that in the past cliques and subgroups have existed, and that focus on the issue has eroded public trust and deputies’ morale.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Ever been annoyed after Windows setup that your user folder has a weird name?—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2026
-
When people get their interest rate wrong, they get annoyed.—
Sam Sammane,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Even though Neto played on Sunday and was in the lineup on Monday afternoon, he was scratched shortly before the game.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
3 June 2026
-
The Royals also caught a break, avoiding young Reds ace Chase Burns, who was scratched due to illness.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
As Rosalind disguised as a boy, Adele wore a bolo tie and a low-slung gun belt with a six-shooter.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Fanny wore a belt strapped across her narrow hips, her eyes clear and bright, jewels on her nails, a cigarette often tucked into her belt.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Even as Dylan maneuvers weightier situations like romantic rejection, or the uncertainty of a new leadership position, or feeling bothered that a promising student decides to turn her back on poetry, the actress brings a sense of humanity while embracing her character’s flaws.—
Candice Frederick,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
-
Gilgeous-Alexander, smothered and bothered, was a minus-13 in the period.—
William Guillory,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
In recent years, that moral and political alignment has frayed.—
Michael W. Sonnenfeldt,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
-
Dalton and Bhaskaran left the edges rough and frayed along the hem and through the cutaway sections, keeping the dress from reading as straight princess fantasy despite the color and scale.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
When Riley returned to the table, La La told me that his high profile in the city sometimes bugged her, because fans were always interrupting them, even sitting down at their table.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Upon arriving at big-league camp this spring, Rojas said the different grip initially bugged him.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chafed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafed. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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