chafe
verb
\ ˈchāf
\
\
chafed;
chafing
Definition of chafe
(Entry 1 of 2)
2
: to warm by rubbing especially with the hands
3a
: 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.
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
nounDefinition of chafe (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms for chafe
Synonyms: Verb
abrade, excoriate, fret, gall, irritate
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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
Democrats chafed at the FTC's decision at the time not to hold specific executives for the company's abuses. — oregonlive, "Google to pay $170 million to settle charges it violated kids’ privacy law on YouTube," 4 Sep. 2019 Look no further than this guide to excessive sweating, chafing, oily skin and hair problems caused by hot weather. — NBC News, "Trump dismisses economic slowdown fears: Read the Morning Rundown," 19 Aug. 2019 Several City Council members chafed at the proposal. — Joshua Fechter, ExpressNews.com, "San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg calls for end to bonuses for utility chiefs," 9 Aug. 2019 In particular, defense hawks chafed at the defense caps, and showed a willingness to give Democrats domestic spending hikes in return for defense hikes. — Brian Riedl, National Review, "New Budget Deal Puts Final Nail in the Tea Party Coffin," 22 July 2019 Puerto Ricans have long chafed at the island’s poor governance and commonwealth status. — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, "The Frustration Behind Puerto Rico’s Popular Movement," 26 July 2019 The lone voice of reason belongs to new recruit Starlight (Erin Moriarity), an actual do-gooder who chafes at Vought's corporatized kayfabe. — Peter Rubin, WIRED, "Amazon's The Boys Tests the Limits of Superhero Fatigue," 26 July 2019 The Middle East country has chafed under American sanctions since Mr. Trump withdrew from an international deal to open Iran’s economy in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. — Vivian Salama, WSJ, "Trump Says Downing of U.S. Drone May Have Been Unintentional," 20 June 2019 The righteously perverse individual appreciates the value of rationality, morality, and the good life—and then, chafing against them, chooses another path. — Paul Bloom, The New Yorker, "The Strange Appeal of Perverse Actions," 19 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
But thankfully, there's a way to sort this scientific wheat from the chafe. — John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, "Why This New 16-Bit Carbon Nanotube Processor Is Such a Big Deal," 28 Aug. 2019 Stabilizing straps are also important—there isn’t a particular strap design or material that’s the absolute best, but secure construction and chafe-free material are two guidelines to buy by. — Glamour, "The Absolute Most Comfortable Sandals, According to People Who Know," 23 Aug. 2019 Life for the gallery residents is timeless and pleasant, for the most part, though some do chafe under Lord Beaverbrook’s strict rules. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, "Children’s Books: Meeting the People in the Paintings," 5 July 2018 Get ahead of the rub by wearing these $12 anti-chafe bands. — Mona Gohara, Good Housekeeping, "How to Prevent and Treat That Annoying Rash Between Your Thighs," 6 July 2018 Some veterans of the Trump White House say the president chafes under the sort of hierarchical structure that Mr. Kelly sought to create, preferring to consult with friends and associates on his own timetable. — Peter Nicholas, WSJ, "Trump Consults on Successors for Chief of Staff John Kelly," 28 June 2018 The smooth, chafe-free waistband sat tidily beneath the hipbelt of my pack. — Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, "The Best Shorts for Women," 31 May 2018 He's insisted on stiffer penalties and chafes when players deny knowingly taking PEDs in the face of positive tests. — Scott Boeck, USA TODAY, "Justin Verlander anticipated a PED denial from Robinson Cano - who did not disappoint," 15 May 2018 The former New York City mayor has only been on the job as a member of the President's legal team for 19 days and, already, the big guy is starting to chafe. — Chris Cillizza, CNN, "The 'Donald Trump is getting sick of Rudy Giuliani' storyline is the most predictable thing ever," 8 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chafe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for chafe
chafe
verb
English Language Learners Definition of chafe
: to become irritated or annoyed : to feel impatient
: to cause soreness or damage by rubbing against something (such as your skin)
: to become sore or damaged from rubbing
See the full definition for chafe in the English Language Learners Dictionary
chafe
verb
\ ˈchāf
\
\
chafed;
chafing
Kids Definition of chafe
1
: to become irritated or impatient
Some of the guests chafed at the sleeping arrangements.
2
: to rub so as to wear away or make sore
Chains chafed the skin of the animal's legs.
chafe
transitive verb