chafe 1 of 2

verb

ˈchāf How to pronounce chafe (audio)
Definition of chafenext
1
as in to irritate
to make sore by continued rubbing ill-fitting boots that had badly chafed my heels

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

chafe

2 of 2

noun

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
Verb
Although many workers chafed against the confines of office life, demand for these jobs only grew. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026 That’s proven irresistible to startups, and increasingly, large companies that have chafed at the control OpenAI and Anthropic hold over their own closed models, as well as the mounting cost of using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Noun
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 See All Example Sentences for chafe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafe
  1. irritate
  2. wear
  3. annoy
  4. indignation
  5. abrasion
  6. scratch
  7. erode
  8. bother
Verb
  • It’s also formulated without potentially irritating ingredients like phthalates, parabens and mineral oil.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
  • While retinol on its own can be irritating, especially on sensitive skin, applying it as a moisturizer can help minimize irritation and soothe the skin—a genius product, IMO.
    — Anna Traver, InStyle, 31 July 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • Heavy rainfall continued to impact Lollapalooza on Saturday, as doors were delayed opening until 2pm, and guests were advised to wear waterproof shoes as Grant Park would be muddy.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Satin and silk iterations, worn by stars like Anne Hathaway, are sophisticated while still maintaining the functionality of the trend.
    — Tessa Petak, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wear
Verb
  • Tiesi, appearing to be annoyed, received a video call from him seconds later.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
  • Andreu Martínez of Spain humorously said in July 2024 that the use of squirt guns was to annoy the tourists a bit.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of annoy
Noun
  • Mind you, Miss Manners agrees with your indignation at this fraudulent maneuver.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
  • And Anne Hathaway, in a bravura performance, situates Penelope on an emotional precipice, caught between indecision and indignation, between yearning for her husband and a palpable disgust with the alternatives.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
Definition of indignation
Noun
  • Ask about fiber content, abrasion rating and frame materials.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Ask the retailer for specifics on fiber content, abrasion rating, frame materials and cushion density.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
Definition of abrasion
Verb
  • Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo López was scratched ahead of Saturday’s game against the Nationals at Truist Park.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The poor offensive production spoiled a night when the Angels got good enough pitching, despite scratching Soriano.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • As more households abandon traditional cable and satellite packages in favor of streaming platforms, the reach that advertisers once took for granted on linear TV are eroding.
    — Kris Qiu, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Crystal hates that shows drop an entire season on release day, and thinks streaming has eroded the monoculture that used to propel powerful franchises to billion-dollar heights.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of erode
Verb
  • Lowe’s marginal position in Britain doesn’t seem to bother his allies in the United States.
    — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026
  • She couldn’t be bothered to hear half of the testimony about carriage horses.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
Definition of bother

Browse Nearby Words

cestus
chafe
chafed
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Cite this Entry

“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafe. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of chafe for Spanish Speakers

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