as in irritating
causing annoyance
learned to ignore those chafing comments that his mother-in-law was constantly making
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in scratching
to make sore by continued rubbing
ill-fitting boots that had badly chafed my heels
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in wearing
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 annoying
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafing
Adjective
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Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition with genetic and environmental causes, whereas atopic dermatitis stems from an irritating substance that triggers a rash.—
Susan Bard,
Verywell Health,
2 Apr. 2025 -
Going Overboard with Outdoor Lighting Light pollution can be just as irritating as that dog down the street who barks like clockwork for 30 minutes every night.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But that’s just scratching the surface – addressing only the symptoms of the underlying challenges and only addressing them at the end of the SDLC process.—
Jeremy Vaughan,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
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Similar to a sheet pan, whole meals can be built in a Dutch oven, scratching that same itch for convenience and less clean up.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Few things are as annoying as a vacuum cleaner that leaves a strip of dust by the baseboards and in the corners.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
9 Apr. 2025
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Ding-dong ditched … well into adulthood—one person rang a neighbor's doorbell repeatedly just to be annoying.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Gerrymandering reduces electoral competition, entrenches incumbents, and marginalizes whole communities, ultimately eroding public trust in democracy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
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The traditional barriers surrounding proprietary AI are eroding, ushering in a new era of innovation that will redefine the global AI race.—
Vandana Rana,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Jan. 2025
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The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Very few things are more frustrating than Wi-Fi that lags mid-stream, mid-binge, or mid-video calls.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
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As frustrating as learning my bearings can be at times, the a-ha moments are always a joy.—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Their sense of social well-being is fraying at an alarming rate.—
Gillian Oakenfull,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Perspective, of course, is sometimes no match for the cold math of an underwhelming win streak or a locker room with fraying edges.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Other times, Claude’s mental activity seems super disturbing and maybe even dangerous.—
Steven Levy,
Wired News,
28 Mar. 2025
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Just as disturbing and bizarre, at least one juror originally didn’t want to convict Zeigler at all and didn’t vote to do so until after that same judge ordered the bailiff to give her a Valium.—
Scott Maxwell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Chafing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafing. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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