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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of chafes
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafes
Verb
-
If someone is in your life long enough, they’re bound to do something that irritates you—and you’re bound to do something that irritates them.
-
Elsa’s inquisitive presence almost instantly irritates Amalia, as the latter refuses to simply acquiesce to her relentless quizzing.
Verb
-
Ellinger isn’t the only one who wears Costco on his sleeve.
-
Bonner, a third-year veteran who has worked his way up the roster as a former undrafted player, has a reputation as one of Miami’s five fastest players, consistently clocking one of the team’s top three speeds in practice based on the team’s tracker every player wears.
Verb
-
What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?
-
One of the more common ways bear encounters escalate is when an off-leash dog runs toward a bear, annoys it, and then comes sprinting back to its owner with an angry predator in pursuit.
Noun
-
Look, of the outrages, these are like the least among them, as far as being upset with the administration, with the president.
-
More recently, Tandy Hills experienced issues with ATVs being driven through the park and damaging wildflowers, sparking outrages on social media from people who demanded the city take action.
Noun
-
The neoprene construction is soft to the touch, but cushioned enough to protect glasses from scratches and bumps.
-
Schwarber and Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams were late scratches; Schwarber with low back tightness and Abrams with left side tightness.
Verb
-
The best exits often happen while the story is still strong, before defensive thinking erodes momentum, talent and valuation.
-
This undermines financial stability, erodes reserves intended for true emergencies, and increases the likelihood of necessary cuts or emergency measures in the future.
Verb
-
Oh, and more often than not, nobody bothers to check whether the change intervention actually worked, or whether leaders improve their performance after all!
-
The government no longer even bothers to disguise itself as a democracy.
Noun
-
The sharp microscopic pieces in DE cause abrasions in the soft bodies of chiggers and break down their protective exoskeleton.
-
The man also had abrasions to the left side of his body, police said.
Cite this Entry
“Chafes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafes. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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