chafe

American  

[cheyf] / tʃeɪf /

verb (used with object)

chafed, chafing

1. to wear or abrade by rubbing.

   He chafed his shoes on the rocks.

2. to make sore by rubbing.

   Her collar chafed her neck.

3. to irritate; annoy.

   The dripping of the faucet chafed her nerves.

   Synonyms:

   provoke, trouble, vex, exasperate

4. to warm by rubbing.

   to chafe cold hands.

5. Obsolete. to heat; make warm.

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verb (used without object)

chafed, chafing

1. to become worn or sore from rubbing.

   His neck began to chafe from the starched collar.

2. to rub; press with friction.

   The horse chafed against his stall.

3. to be irritated or annoyed.

   He chafed at their constant interruptions.

noun

1. irritation; annoyance.

2. heat, wear, or soreness caused by rubbing.

idioms

1. chafe at the bit, to become impatient at delay.

   The work was going very slowly, and he began to chafe at the bit.

chafe British  

/ tʃeɪf /

verb

1. to make or become sore or worn by rubbing

2. (tr) to warm (the hands, etc) by rubbing

3. to irritate or be irritated or impatient

   he was chafed because he was not allowed out

4. (intr; often foll by on, against, etc) to cause friction; rub

5. See champ 1

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noun

1. a soreness or irritation caused by friction

Other Word Forms

• nonchafing adjective
• overchafe verb
• unchafed adjective

Etymology

Origin of chafe

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English chaufen “to heat, rub,” from Middle French chaufer, from Vulgar Latin calfāre (unrecorded), variant of Latin cal(e)facere, from cale-, stem of calēre “to be hot” + facere “to do, make”

Explanation

To chafe is to irritate or annoy. If your shoes chafe you, they rub your skin raw. Ouch. If you chafe at the suggestion that you should be studying more, the suggestion rubs you the wrong way. Chafe originally meant to warm, like a chafing dish on a hotel buffet. Though this may seem like a big jump, think of when your hands are cold and you rub them together to warm them up. So you can say that rubbed skin is kind of hot as is a temper flaring up from irritation. If you are a hot head, you are easily chafed.

Example Sentences

Investors, though, have found various reasons to chafe at Microsoft’s story.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

They might chafe at the regulatory sovereignty of American regulators, especially as other jurisdictions are attempting to establish themselves as crypto centers.

From Barron's • Nov. 19, 2025

But others chafe at the bit to let loose the dogs of their wild-eyed fantasies.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2025

Chutkan continued to "chafe" at Lauro's arguments during the hearing.

From Salon • Oct. 16, 2023

“You’re freezing,” Encanis said and began to chafe my arms and legs with his hands, trying to get my blood flowing again.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• annoy
• fret
• fume
• incense
• irk
• irritate
• offend
• rub