chafing 1 of 2

adjective

as in irritating
causing annoyance learned to ignore those chafing comments that his mother-in-law was constantly making

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chafing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of chafe
1
as in scratching
to make sore by continued rubbing ill-fitting boots that had badly chafed my heels

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 chafing
Adjective
Shop these finds and more anti-chafing solutions at Amazon below, from $5. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 11 June 2026 This anti-chafing stick from MegaBabe is my go-to to prevent soreness in the inner thigh area, where legs tend to rub together. — Terri Peters, Parents, 6 Mar. 2026 Apply Lubricant Applying a thin layer of liquid lubricant or other anti-chafing topical cream to areas on your feet that are prone to blisters can help reduce friction while running. — Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
Women love that this shapewear keeps thighs from chafing. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026 Plus, their padded collar prevents chafing against calves. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025 To further create a secure feel, the shoe is also made with a plush heel collar and tongue that lock you in without chafing against your feet. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026 The slick material keeps chafing to a minimum during workouts, and the brushed inside is so soft against the skin and helps keep cold air out and your body heat in. — Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026 Despite my profuse sweating from every pore on my body, the deodorant didn’t dissipate and allowed my thighs to glide against each other without chafing. — Laura Harold, Outside, 28 Sep. 2025 Both had spent their entire lives chafing under the terror of bigotry, and from the hypocrisy being exposed by a heinous, toxic legacy of institutionalized double standards. — John E. Green, Time, 1 Feb. 2026 Van Der Beek played the titular Dawson, and his persona was one of a straightforward, yearning good guy chafing against others’ cynicism. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026 Leila, emotionally wounded by her older sister’s death, enjoys recreational drugs and skipping class with Abbie, who is chafing against her controlling parents. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chafing
  1. irritating
  2. scratching
  3. wearing
  4. annoying
  5. frustrating
  6. eroding
  7. bothering
  8. disturbing
Adjective
  • Few workplace behaviors are as small, common and irritating as the message that goes unanswered.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Greenberg tried his best to ignore an irritating ankle injury that had plagued him the last couple of weeks and grimaced under the hazy sunlight as the pitcher, probably 20 or more years his junior, stared him down.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of irritating
Verb
  • In a game not known for high scores, the pace of goals in this World Cup has left some fans scratching their heads.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • In April, when Rojas got news that his father had been rushed to the hospital, Roberts quickly took the decision on whether to play out of Rojas’ hands, scratching him from the lineup.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
Definition of scratching
Verb
  • Doctors Without Borders health workers wearing personal protective equipment move through the isolated red zone to monitor patients, provide medical care and ensure sanitation at the Ebola Treatment Center in Munigi in Congo on June 2, 2026.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Rodríguez Castro can be seen wearing a New York Yankees shirt, moving suggestively to driving percussive beats, punctuated by catchy, syncopated vocals.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of wearing
Verb
  • Weird; annoying even – but the floaters did not seem urgent.
    — Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
  • My biggest concern about adding a tracking device around Mya’s neck was annoying her or creating disruption.
    — Tyler Hayes, PC Magazine, 13 May 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • Two months after another frustrating playoff finish, the 76ers now look ahead with a reasonable expectation to be among the conference favorites next season.
    — Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Residents said the latest delay is especially frustrating because the pool also remained closed for much of last summer after a water line ruptured while it was being filled.
    — Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of frustrating
Verb
  • But Koppl traced a distinctly American lineage through a chain of precedents dating back more than 50 years, each one further eroding the market discipline that profit-and-loss accountability is supposed to provide.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026
  • McGraw Hill Higher Education cites a study by Gerlich (2025) at SBS Swiss Business School that reveals an over-reliance on AI tools is eroding critical thinking abilities.
    — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of eroding
Verb
  • Travis was snapped having a blast bothering Jason as the duo attended a match between Jupiter Links GC and The Bay Golf Club at SoFi Center on March 3.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • For now, the Royals hope to figure out exactly what’s bothering him.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of bothering
Adjective
  • There were many disturbing parts of Kerstin’s story left unpursued.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • The film is a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 25 June 2026
Definition of disturbing

Browse Nearby Words

chaffy
chafing
chagrin
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Cite this Entry

“Chafing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chafing. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chafing

Nglish: Translation of chafing for Spanish Speakers

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