Synonyms of chafe

chafe 1 of 2

verb

ˈchāf 

1

as in to irritate

to make sore by continued rubbing

ill-fitting boots that had badly chafed my heels

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritate
• scratch
• scrape
• abrade
• fret
• excoriate
• skin
• gall
• graze
• burn
• peel
• inflame
• flay

2

as in to wear

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

• wear
• erode
• fray
• rub
• abrade
• reduce
• fret
• shave
• gall
• erase
• scrape
• bite
• gnaw
• sharpen
• eat
• corrade
• frazzle
• graze
• chew
• corrode
• scour
• rasp
• file
• wipe (away)
• disintegrate
• nibble
• scuff
• grate
• wear out
• sandpaper
• dissolve
• sandblast
• grind
• decompose
• rub out
• whet
• hone
• break down
• break up

3

as in to annoy

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

• annoy
• bother
• irritate
• bug
• persecute
• aggravate
• exasperate
• irk
• get
• itch
• worry
• spite
• vex
• rile
• eat
• infuriate
• ruffle
• gripe
• grate
• anger
• burn (up)
• pique
• gall
• nark
• frost
• get to
• put out
• wear on
• tease
• plague
• nettle
• peeve
• provoke
• rasp
• hack (off)
• insult
• nag
• rub the wrong way
• offend
• get on one's nerves
• harass
• stick in one's craw
• upset
• get one's goat
• heckle
• hassle
• enrage
• rouse
• discomfort
• set one's teeth on edge
• rankle
• inflame
• agitate
• distress
• outrage
• pester
• roil
• unsettle
• badger
• antagonize
• discompose
• devil
• harry
• undo
• fret
• disquiet
• perturb
• exercise
• madden
• unhinge
• affront
• bait
• incense
• miff
• bullyrag
• freak (out)
• hagride

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appease
• placate
• oblige
• conciliate
• pacify
• please
• satisfy
• gratify
• delight
• mollify
• assure
• propitiate
• soothe
• comfort
• cheer
• reassure
• content
• gladden
• console
• quiet
• solace

chafe

2 of 2

noun

1

as in indignation

Related Words

• indignation
• anger
• ire
• gall
• umbrage
• dander
• outrage
• dudgeon
• pique
• discomfort
• resentment
• irritability
• huff
• irritation
• perturbation
• trouble
• angriness
• pet
• distress
• upset
• agitation
• irateness
• peeve
• displeasure
• snappishness
• irritableness
• disturbance
• bother
• grief
• exasperation
• frustration
• vexation
• aggravation
• annoyance
• pip
• botheration
• aggro

Dissimilar Words

• pleasure
• delight

2

as in abrasion

Related Words

• abrasion
• scratch
• swelling
• rupture
• wound
• scrape
• strain
• bruise
• contusion
• harm
• hurt
• lesion
• boo-boo
• injury
• detriment
• bump
• burn
• scald
• gash
• laceration
• damage
• disability
• scar
• concussion
• scathe
• sear
• impairment
• cut
• affliction
• disfigurement
• disablement
• defacement

Dissimilar Words

• recovery
• healing
• remedy
• cure
• fix

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chafe

Verb

Council members have long chafed at their exclusion from an intergovernmental agreement between the city and MARTA that dictates how decisions are made within the More MARTA program established by voters in a 2016 referendum. —Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Consumers have chafed at some of the company’s integration of ESPN Unlimited, which is relying on cable providers to grant access to their subscribers and is absorbing some content that used to be available at no additional cost to traditional ESPN+ subscribers. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2026

Noun

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

The soft details include a tagless design and chafe-free stitching, and the crew neck retains its shape well. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025