Meaning & use

chafe

verb·Academic

To become sore or irritated from repeated rubbing against something.

See it in a sentence

The stiff new boots chafed her heels during the long hike.

He began to chafe under the strict rules imposed by his new manager.

A note on using this word

Chafe also describes feeling impatient or annoyed under restriction, as in chafe against restrictions.

Words with a similar meaning

rubirritate

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

soothe

Make it your own

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