frazzle

1 of 2

verb

fraz·​zle ˈfra-zəl How to pronounce frazzle (audio)
frazzled; frazzling ˈfra-zə-liŋ How to pronounce frazzle (audio)
ˈfraz-liŋ

transitive verb

1
2
a
: to put in a state of extreme physical or nervous fatigue
b
: upset

frazzle

2 of 2

noun

1
: the state of being frazzled
2
: a condition of fatigue or nervous exhaustion
worn to a frazzle

Examples of frazzle in a Sentence

Verb He's a clever player who knows how to frazzle his opponents. years of use have frazzled the cord for the window blinds to the breaking point Noun months of overtime work have left her worn to a frazzle
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
As Freddy, Cutmore-Scott has two gears so far: Perpetually annoyed with or frazzled by his father's presence. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 9 Oct. 2023 Booker, Beal get technicals, Clippers extend lead at half Phoenix trails 70-51 at the half, and looked frazzled against L.A. in the second quarter. Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2024 Bloom had arrived on the boardwalk frazzled from subway hassles. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023 The British Prime Minister Anthony Eden, already frazzled and taking amphetamines, had a nervous breakdown. Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024 Crashing into the yard of a young Amelia Pond (Karen Gillan), who is independent and fearless but for the menacing crack in her bedroom wall, the Doctor arrives ready to step into the role of savior, though he is frazzled dealing with a resetting TARDIS and the aftereffects of his regeneration. Maya Phillips, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2023 By providing a stable work environment, consistent roles, and opportunities for long-term growth, managers can keep these folks from becoming frazzled and disengaged. Mark Murphy, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 My frenzied Facebook feed is the portrait of a stunned and frazzled collective mind. Ruby Namdar, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2023 Italians are frazzled as a summer of incinerating heat waves lingers and fear mounts over the return of hailstones the size of handballs. Jason Horowitz, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
Noun
The signature crack of a sonic boom can shake walls, rattle windows, and frazzle nerves. Jason Daley, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2011 There are subtler ways to explore the chaotic frazzle of modern life than through the violent synthesis of superfruits in a blender. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2021 The tackles, the contact and the double teams had worn him to a frazzle. Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 8 Aug. 2021 The industrious and dedicated Studley looked worn to a frazzle by June. Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 June 2021 More than any other cast member this year, Kate McKinnon let the frazzle show. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 May 2021 Hair frazzles and bandanas get abandoned to the floor. Jenna Scatena, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Dec. 2019 And most notably for his own legacy as a general manager, West worked himself into a frazzle in the summer of 1996 to lure free-agent Shaquille O'Neal to the Lakers, days of nonstop negotiation that landed West in the hospital. Jack McCallum, SI.com, 11 July 2018 Judging by the media's frazzle, the fearful response. Fox News, 17 Mar. 2018

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of English dialect fazle to tangle, fray

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1825, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of frazzle was circa 1825

Dictionary Entries Near frazzle

Cite this Entry

“Frazzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frazzle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

frazzle

1 of 2 noun
fraz·​zle
ˈfraz-əl
: a tired or nervous condition
worn to a frazzle

frazzle

2 of 2 verb
1
: fray
2
: to cause to be in a tired or nervous condition

More from Merriam-Webster on frazzle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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