Synonyms of chafes

chafes 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of chafe

1

as in irritates

to make sore by continued rubbing

ill-fitting boots that had badly chafed my heels

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritates
• scratches
• scrapes
• excoriates
• galls
• frets
• abrades
• grazes
• burns
• inflames
• peels
• skins
• flays

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

• wears
• erodes
• frays
• rubs
• reduces
• abrades
• scrapes
• erases
• shaves
• galls
• frets
• sharpens
• gnaws
• bites
• eats
• frazzles
• corrades
• rasps
• grazes
• scours
• files
• corrodes
• disintegrates
• grates
• chews
• scuffs
• decomposes
• wears out
• dissolves
• sandblasts
• grinds
• wipes (away)
• sandpapers
• nibbles
• whets
• hones
• rubs out
• breaks down
• breaks up

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

• annoys
• bothers
• irritates
• persecutes
• bugs
• aggravates
• gets
• itches
• irks
• exasperates
• infuriates
• vexes
• riles
• eats
• angers
• worries
• grates
• gripes
• piques
• burns (up)
• spites
• ruffles
• teases
• galls
• provokes
• gets to
• narks
• nettles
• wears on
• frosts
• plagues
• peeves
• rasps
• nags
• puts out
• insults
• hacks (off)
• offends
• enrages
• rubs the wrong way
• harasses
• upsets
• gets on one's nerves
• sticks in one's craw
• rouses
• rankles
• inflames
• sets one's teeth on edge
• unsettles
• gets one's goat
• hassles
• pesters
• agitates
• harries
• antagonizes
• roils
• distresses
• perturbs
• undoes
• heckles
• maddens
• disquiets
• outrages
• unhinges
• discomforts
• badgers
• frets
• affronts
• devils
• baits
• incenses
• exercises
• miffs
• bullyrags
• freaks (out)
• discomposes
• hagrides

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obliges
• pleases
• satisfies
• appeases
• placates
• delights
• mollifies
• pacifies
• gratifies
• gladdens
• assures
• soothes
• conciliates
• propitiates
• contents
• reassures
• cheers
• quiets
• comforts
• consoles
• solaces

chafes

2 of 2

noun

plural of chafe

1

as in angers

Related Words

• angers
• galls
• indignations
• outrages
• ires
• danders
• perturbations
• piques
• huffs
• distresses
• upsets
• dudgeons
• umbrages
• pets
• resentments
• troubles
• irritabilities
• peeves
• agitations
• discomforts
• irritations
• displeasures
• disturbances
• griefs
• frustrations
• bothers
• exasperations
• vexations
• pips
• aggravations
• annoyances
• aggros
• botherations

Dissimilar Words

• pleasures
• delights

2

as in scratches

Related Words

• scratches
• abrasions
• scrapes
• wounds
• ruptures
• swellings
• bruises
• contusions
• lesions
• hurts
• strains
• damages
• bumps
• harms
• injuries
• boo-boos
• burns
• lacerations
• scars
• disabilities
• gashes
• concussions
• detriments
• cuts
• scalds
• disfigurements
• impairments
• afflictions
• sears
• disablements
• defacements
• scathes

Dissimilar Words

• recoveries
• remedies
• cures
• fixes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chafes

Verb

The debut novel from this English professor and pioneering feminist follows Mira, a suburban homemaker who chafes against patriarchal society, divorces her husband, enrolls in graduate school, and becomes an outspoken advocate for women’s rights. — Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 25 June 2026

This new life chafes my husband more than me. — Zinzi Clemmons, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

What feels like sci-fi resolves into a Realist worker portrait as a technological fantasy of efficiency chafes against the fleshy, earthly physical world. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026

The lively, spirited daughter of an Afghani immigrant family chafes against the traditional values of her family and immigrant community. — The Know, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026

As John's disciplinary hearing draws ever closer, the protagonist increasingly chafes at his attempts to smooth over the situation. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 5 Mar. 2026

Throughout, emotion churns and chafes against a backdrop of political unrest, corporate malfeasance, and the everyday horrors that erode modern life. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026

What follows is an absurd reckoning that mixes surreal humor and domestic drama as Shula chafes against her relatives’ hysterical funeral planning. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2025

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