chaff
1 of 3noun (1)
ˈchaf 
1
: the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain
2
: something comparatively worthless
a few kernels of wisdom amid much discursive chaff
Steven Raichlen
Steven Raichlen3
: the scales borne on the receptacle among the florets in the heads of many composite plants
4
: material (such as strips of foil or clusters of fine wires) ejected into the air for reflecting radar waves (as for confusing an enemy's radar detection)
planes equipped with chaff dispensers
chaffy
ˈcha-fē
adjective chaff
2 of 3noun (2)
: light jesting talk : banter
chaff
3 of 3verb
chaffed; chaffing; chaffs
transitive verb
: to tease good-naturedly
intransitive verb
: jest, banter
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- deadwood
- debris
- dreck
- drek
- dross
- dust
- effluvium
- effluvia
- garbage
- junk
- litter
- offal
- offscouring
- raffle
- refuse
- riffraff
- rubbish
- scrap
- spilth
- trash
- truck
- waste
Noun (2)
- backchat
- badinage
- banter
- give-and-take
- jesting
- joshing
- persiflage
- raillery
- repartee
Verb
- jive
- joke
- josh
- kid
- rally
- razz
- rib
- ride
- roast
- tease
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb chaffed her about the brightly colored shirt she had received as a gift a coworker who likes to chaff at others' expense, and this often results in hurt feelings
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English chaf, from Old English ceaf; akin to Old High German cheva husk
Noun (2)
probably from chaff entry 1
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1821, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1827, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing chaff
Kids Definition
chaff 1 of 2
noun
ˈchaf
1
: the husks of grains and grasses separated from the seed in threshing
2
: something worthless
chaff
2 of 2verb
chaffed; chaffing
: to tease in a friendly way
chaffy
adjective
as in worthless
having no usefulness a decidedly chaffy book that is basically a collection of old interviews with celebrities Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- worthless
- empty
- valueless
- cheap
- vain
- null
- imperfect
- bad
- junky
- flawed
- inferior
- defective
- duff
- inadequate
- cheapjack
- no-good
- unsatisfactory
- insufficient
- base
- dud
- lousy
- low-grade
- substandard
- deficient
- second-rate
- unacceptable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- valuable
- worthy
- useful
- precious
- invaluable
- prized
- fancy
- esteemed
- treasured
- cherished
- priceless
- special
- exceptional
- high-grade
- choice
- clergiable
- clergical
- clergies
- clergy
- clergyable
- clergyman
- clergyman's sore throat
- clergymen
- clergyperson
- clergypersons
- clergywoman
- clergywomen
- cleric
- clerical
- clerical collar
- clerical error
- clerical technician
- clericalism
- clericalisms
- clericalist
- clericalists
- clericality
- clericalize
- clerically
- clericals