chafe

1 of 2

verb

ˈchāf 

chafed; chafing

transitive verb

1

: irritate, vex

The noise of the children playing chafed her.

2

: to warm by rubbing especially with the hands

3

a

: to rub so as to wear away : abrade

the strap chafed his skin

The boat chafed its sides against the dock.

b

: to make sore by or as if by rubbing

The tight collar chafed his neck.

intransitive verb

1

: to feel irritation, discontent, or impatience : fret

chafes at the rules

2

: to rub and thereby cause wear or irritation

The baby's skin chafes if the strap is too tight.

chafe

2 of 2

noun

1

: a state of vexation : rage

the cardinal in a state of chafe sent for him

—William Camden

2

: injury or wear caused by friction

Gloves provide protection against chafe.

also : friction, rubbing

Synonyms

Verb

• abrade
• excoriate
• fret
• gall
• irritate

Examples of chafe in a Sentence

Verb

When the strap is too tight, it chafes the baby's skin.

If my boots aren't laced up tight they chafe.

The baby's skin will chafe if the strap is too tight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Zelenskyy had chafed at a deal without specific security guarantees from Washington. —Jill Lawless and Aamer Madhani The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 28 Feb. 2025

But as a rule, people get a little chafed at being labeled. —Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025

Noun

The statistic that Heidinger particularly chafes against is that only 5 to 8% of all plastic is recycled. —Graham P. Johnson, Twin Cities, 27 Jan. 2024

Malkovich’s subdued and convincing performance, defined by a low and drawn-out intonation, chafes against Green’s verbose screenplay. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English chaufen to warm, from Anglo-French chaufer, from Vulgar Latin *calfare, alteration of Latin calefacere, from calēre to be warm + facere to make — more at lee, do

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chafe

• safe
• waif
• unsafe
• vouchsafe

Kids Definition

chafe

verb

ˈchāf

chafed; chafing

1

a

: irritate sense 1, vex

b

: to feel irritation, dissatisfaction, or impatience : fret

2

: to warm by rubbing

3

: to rub so as to wear away or make sore

Medical Definition

chafe

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈchāf 

chafed; chafing

: to irritate or make sore by or as if by rubbing

chafe

2 of 2 noun

: injury caused by friction