What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
chafe
Example
The new shoes chafed my heels and gave me blisters. [chafed: past tense]
Example
After running for a long time, the fabric of my shirt started to chafe against my skin. [chafe: verb]
irritate
Example
His constant interruptions irritated me during the meeting. [irritated: past tense]
Example
The mosquito bites are starting to irritate my skin. [irritate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Irritate is more commonly used than chafe in everyday language. Irritate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while chafe is less common and is mainly used in specific situations related to physical discomfort.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between chafe and irritate?
While chafe is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, irritate can be employed in both formal and informal contexts, allowing it to be used in various formality levels.
