as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
she wore a beloved but badly frayed flannel shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in eroded
to damage or diminish by continued friction
constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frayed
Hannah Malach, InStyle, 11 June 2026
Look for appliances with frayed or cracked cords and get rid of them.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Clemente suggests looking out for frayed or damaged cords, cracked plugs, unusual warmth, buzzing noises, burning smells, or discoloration around outlets.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 9 June 2026
When my grandchildren were around recently, Marie was gritting her teeth because her nerves were so frayed.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 7 June 2026
The backstory The 1 Hotel has taken over what was formerly the Hotel Vitale, which always had fabulous bones (lots of windows, spacious guest rooms) but had been feeling a little frayed for the last few years of its existence.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
From then on, relationships became frayed and strained.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Lear would provide comment through this portrait of a neurotic, frayed woman and the people who surround her.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Faulty connections, frayed wires, and incompatible electrical voltage can lead to breakage and even fires.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 May 2026
Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
There has long been a bipartisan consensus around supporting Israel in Washington, but that has frayed in recent years.
—Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 17 June 2026
Patience is tried; tempers are frayed.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
His nerves were frayed and his sleep suffered.
—Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
So when the seventh inning rolled around, his nerves were not frayed.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
The traditional political alliances are frayed, at best, with socialists backing a billionaire and Trump supporting an immigrant.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 30 May 2026
Dalton and Bhaskaran left the edges rough and frayed along the hem and through the cutaway sections, keeping the dress from reading as straight princess fantasy despite the color and scale.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 16 May 2026
Bessent's visit comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Tokyo have frayed, following Takaichi's comments in November that indicated Tokyo would support Taiwan if threatened by Beijing's military, drawing a sharp response from Beijing.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Adjective
Meghan's pussybow button-down featured an optical illusion in the form of a double collar, as well as a frayed black ribbon at the neckline.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 11 June 2026
Look for appliances with frayed or cracked cords and get rid of them.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Clemente suggests looking out for frayed or damaged cords, cracked plugs, unusual warmth, buzzing noises, burning smells, or discoloration around outlets.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 9 June 2026
When my grandchildren were around recently, Marie was gritting her teeth because her nerves were so frayed.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 7 June 2026
The backstory The 1 Hotel has taken over what was formerly the Hotel Vitale, which always had fabulous bones (lots of windows, spacious guest rooms) but had been feeling a little frayed for the last few years of its existence.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
From then on, relationships became frayed and strained.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Lear would provide comment through this portrait of a neurotic, frayed woman and the people who surround her.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Faulty connections, frayed wires, and incompatible electrical voltage can lead to breakage and even fires.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 May 2026
Verb
Meloni is astonished and defiant Trump’s posturing underscored how his alliance with Meloni — who has long been seen as one of his closest friends in Europe — has frayed over his war in Iran, his tariffs against Europe and his complaints when anyone disagrees with him.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
There has long been a bipartisan consensus around supporting Israel in Washington, but that has frayed in recent years.
—Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 17 June 2026
Patience is tried; tempers are frayed.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
His nerves were frayed and his sleep suffered.
—Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
So when the seventh inning rolled around, his nerves were not frayed.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
The traditional political alliances are frayed, at best, with socialists backing a billionaire and Trump supporting an immigrant.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 30 May 2026
Dalton and Bhaskaran left the edges rough and frayed along the hem and through the cutaway sections, keeping the dress from reading as straight princess fantasy despite the color and scale.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 16 May 2026
Bessent's visit comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Tokyo have frayed, following Takaichi's comments in November that indicated Tokyo would support Taiwan if threatened by Beijing's military, drawing a sharp response from Beijing.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frayed
Adjective
-
Their vibrant appendages become tattered and dull.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
-
Nichols organized a day where 26 volunteers came together to replace American tattered and torn flags with brand new ones, including David and Sue Hornbrook's torn flag.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The oil supply shock caused by the Iran war has eroded global demand for crude — but a lasting resolution to the conflict could drive a surge in supply volumes and trigger a major oil overhang next year, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
-
Israel’s failed forever wars in Iran and Lebanon have further eroded Netanyahu’s prospects.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Slugs and snails are some of the peskiest garden visitors that can riddle plant leaves with ragged holes or chew tender crops like lettuce down to nubs overnight.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
-
But the work was running him ragged.—
John Swansburg,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The Nike Air Max Joga Bonito R9 mashes up the boot Ronaldo wore for the 1998 World Cup with the Air Max 95.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
-
Witherspoon wore a hot pink plunging Prada gown to the occasion—perfectly on brand for Elle.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
Police say that the suspect's vehicle has a faded convertible top, no rear window, chrome-and-red European-style taillights and chrome rims.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
Next to a limp rack of sleeveless tops stands a postapocalyptic forager-warrior mannequin in jeans, a faded plaid shirt, and a black baseball cap from the plus-size-women’s brand Torrid.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frayed. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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