fray

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈfrā

Synonyms of fray next

: a usually disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute

Fighting there could easily draw neighboring nations into the fray.—

Blaine Harden

… the patrician statesman who stood above the fray.—

Richard D. Hylton

fray

2 of 4

verb (1)

frayed; fraying; frays

transitive verb

: to wear (something, such as an edge of cloth) by or as if by rubbing : fret

: to separate the threads at the edge of

: strain, irritate

… a botched new bus system … which has frayed tempers.—

The Economist

intransitive verb

: to wear out or into shreds

: to show signs of strain

fraying nerves

fray

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noun (2)

: a raveled place or worn spot (as on fabric)

fray

4 of 4

verb (2)

frayed; fraying; frays

transitive verb

archaic

: scare

also : to frighten away

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Craft brewers right up to mega producers have joined the fray as each produces a variety of nonalcoholic beers using new technology. —

Michael Kohn, oregonlive, 14 Apr. 2023 Two days later, the California Department of Justice asked a judge to enter the fray and force the county to fix the facilities. —

Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2023 Our testers spent two days carefully examining each bath towel for snags and frays in the fabric, rating the softness and texture, and testing absorption by drying their hands on them and placing the towels in a bowl of standing water. —

Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2023 Into this fray steps Bart D. Ehrman, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. —

David Dark, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2023 Supporters also acknowledged that Williamson is entering the political fray as an underdog. —

Ryan King, Washington Examiner, 4 Mar. 2023 This partnership between two strong players is crucial in a highly competitive marketplace where content demand is high, but more players have also jumped into the fray. —

Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 24 Jan. 2023 The Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) will continue to emerge from the fray of regenerative rubrics. —

Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2023 Safely out of the rowdy fray of high-fives and powerful hugs, beaming broadly and recording the players’ arrival on his phone was the man who had made the celebration possible: Christian Pulisic. —

Andrew Das, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2022

Verb

As his friendship with Emma begins to fray, so does his relationship with budding flame Robyn (Chloe Bennet), as Dave fails to so much as mention her in the film when discussing his search for romance. —

Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 25 May 2023 Bobbing in the morning swell beneath the Golden Gate Bridge’s north tower, five divers in thick, hooded wetsuits clung to an inflatable paddleboard anchored precariously on the bay floor by an 80-pound rock tied with fraying jute rope. —

Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 May 2023 The discovery of the bloody crime scene on November 13 shattered the Idaho college town and frayed the nerves of students and residents as the search for a suspect ensued. —

Taylor Romine, CNN, 5 May 2023 Vietnam becomes a huge issue as well, and so the New Deal order is fraying from within. —

How To Save A Country, The New Republic, 4 May 2023 Russians’ nerves already have been frayed by attacks, either likely from Ukraine or from domestic opponents, that have risen sharply in recent weeks. —

Jim Heintz, Anchorage Daily News, 4 May 2023 Our only concern is that the tassel fringe ends could fray over time, and a few had some loose threads after washing. —

Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2023 But when the pressure of layoffs comes, that resolve may begin to fray. —

Glenn Gow, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2023 Overturning their decision could fray relationships within the party. —

Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Jan. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.