1
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in indignation
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in abrasion
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chafe
Korok Ray, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
On This may look like a low impact-worthy set, but the fabric is advanced enough for high-sweat sessions, offering chafe-free support and moisture-wicking capabilities.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025
Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
Trump has chafed at the influence and advice of the right-leaning Federalist Society and its former leader Leonard Leo, upon whom Trump relied in his first term to name hundreds of judges.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Verb
And this chafes against Bitcoin’s underlying ethos of decentralization.
—Korok Ray, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
On This may look like a low impact-worthy set, but the fabric is advanced enough for high-sweat sessions, offering chafe-free support and moisture-wicking capabilities.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
The hope was that the Milwaukee Bucks — who, just months after winning their first NBA title, were chafing at the limitations of the Milwaukee Arena — would be a high-profile tenant of the new complex.
—Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
Trump has chafed at the influence and advice of the right-leaning Federalist Society and its former leader Leonard Leo, upon whom Trump relied in his first term to name hundreds of judges.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
Verb
-
As Venus irritates Pluto, exploring an office entanglement might not be a good idea!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
-
In fact, vitamin C, chemical exfoliants (like glycolic, lactic, or salicylic acid), and retinol shouldn’t be used together all at once, since this combination can irritate and inflame the skin (including your existing hyperpigmentation).—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Klan was more than happy to wear white after Labor Day too.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
15 Aug. 2025
-
There will be a moment’s silence held at all Premier League matches this weekend, with players also wearing black armbands.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But overall, people seem to finally comprehend that the protests aren’t just to annoy people.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Aug. 2025
-
This not only infuriated Epstein conspiracy theorists but also annoyed White House officials, who hadn’t been informed of the stunt in advance.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
At the heart of Nugent’s indignation was the 2021 sting operation that entangled him and three other landowners in a legal battle with the DNR.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
30 July 2025
-
That indignation, those headlines, the praise for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s bravery and leadership cooling dramatically since those early days–in Europe and America.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
Also visible in the image is an abrasion patch, a 2-inch (5-centimeter) area of the Martian surface into which Perseverance drilled with its diamond-dust tipped grinder known as the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT), capable of spinning at 3,000 revolutions per minute.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
These issues can include: Corneal abrasions: Contact lenses or foreign objects can scratch or scrape the epithelium, the outer layer of your cornea.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Don't scratch: A healing tattoo may be itchy, but resist the urge to scratch.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Others shared clever ways to scratch the itch of shopping without actually spending any money.—
Malaka Gharib,
NPR,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In fact, even as Iran and its premier proxy, Hezbollah, were being eroded through much of 2024, the Saudis appointed their first ambassador to Damascus in 12 years—capping a year-long diplomatic process that included former President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to Riyadh in May 2023.—
Kamran Bokhari,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
It’s been a brutal year for journalism, with mass layoffs, corporate capitulation, and distrust of traditional media eroding the industry.—
Shauna Lyon,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
There are many players who let criticism bother them, and that’s bad for you, your teammates and people around you.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Passive-aggressive people rarely tell you exactly what’s bothering them.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share