1
2
as in wears
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 annoys
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 angers
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in scratches
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chafes
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafes
Verb
-
But Chelsea won’t have it, shutting the whole thing down in a way that clearly irritates her.—
Anne Victoria Clark,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The group exhausts and irritates opposing pitchers.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Grace Van Patten wears a flowy dress to celebrate the E1 Miami GP in Miami, with Bombay Sapphire.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
-
As the day wears on, the crowd swells to a formidable throng.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Ask yourself what annoys you specifically about that behavior, Davis says.—
NPR,
NPR,
28 Oct. 2025
-
There are days when my running annoys my wife, my children, or my colleagues.—
Nicholas Thompson,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
After several flights, the shell is still free of scratches and signs of wear.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
In the Facebook video, Loki happily accepted gentle petting and head scratches.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For any administration to treat them that way erodes our national security and flies in the face of Congress’ constitutional obligation to oversee matters of war and peace.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
29 Oct. 2025
-
When the only people receiving relief are celebrities, political insiders or headline-makers, public confidence erodes.—
Khalil Cumberbatch,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
What about him specifically bothers you especially in terms of poisoning the youth?—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Really, the accuracy is the one thing that bothers me with him.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Corneal abrasions typically heal in a matter of days with the proper treatment but can be debilitating initially.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Eileen Weir suffered multiple abrasions and bruises.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This particular aspect of the show frays the gripping tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Conjuring the troubled inner life of a young, beautiful and successful Buenos Aires fashion designer with an uncommon mix of stylistic rigor and feeling, the film frays your nerves.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chafes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafes. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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