chafed; chafing
2
: to warm by rubbing especially with the hands
3
a
: 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.
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
Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
The lead agencies had been hollowed out in the Trump administration, with a sharp increase in departures from career officials who objected to the policies and chafed under intense White House pressure on their portfolios, multiple Biden administration officials recounted to CNN.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for chafe 
Verb
On social media, some commentators of a nationalist bent chafed at the very notion of French foodies passing judgment on the venerable Mexican taco.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024
The lead agencies had been hollowed out in the Trump administration, with a sharp increase in departures from career officials who objected to the policies and chafed under intense White House pressure on their portfolios, multiple Biden administration officials recounted to CNN.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for chafe
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chafe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near chafe
Cite this Entry
“Chafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chafe. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
chafe
1 of 2 transitive verb
chafed; chafing
: to irritate or make sore by or as if by rubbing
chafe
2 of 2 noun
: injury caused by friction
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share