fractious

adjective

frac·​tious ˈfrak-shəs 

1

: tending to be troublesome : unruly

a fractious crowd

2

: quarrelsome, irritable

a fractious political campaign

fractiously adverb

fractiousness noun

Did you know?

The Latin verb frangere means "to break or shatter" and is related to a few common words, which is evident in their meanings. Dishes that are fragile break easily. A person whose health is easily broken might be described as frail. A fraction is one of the many pieces into which a whole can be broken. But fraction also once meant "disharmony" or "discord"—that is, a "rupture in relations." From this noun sense came the adjective fractious.

Examples of fractious in a Sentence

The fractious crowd grew violent.

Recent Examples on the Web

What Happens Next The visibility and health status of Imran Khan remain central issues in Pakistan’s fractious political climate and its international image. —Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

Despite progress in some territories, both Gustad and Bedi acknowledge the increasingly fractious global political climate around transgender rights. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025

Party leaders including Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries continue blaming Republicans for the looming premium spikes and other shutdown ripples, but the standoff’s sudden end underscores the difficulty of maintaining Democrats’ fragile and fractious coalition. —Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025

But unlike Hemedti, whose word is the RSF’s law, Burhan heads a fractious coalition, and the Islamists vetoed a deal at the last moment. —Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

fract(ion) (in sense "rupture, discord, breach of the peace") + -ious (after captious, factious)

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fractious

• factious

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!