1
: in a state of extreme physical or nervous fatigue and agitation
So relentlessly did my partner and I spring into our work throughout the week that by Saturday night we were frazzled wrecks.—
Jack London
Jack LondonA frazzled looking housefrau [=hausfrau], clutching a toilet scrub brush in one hand and the fist of a wailing toddler in the other, confronted me with a look of pure exasperation.—Paul Di Filippo
Paul Di FilippoShe seems relaxed, breathing evenly; there's nothing here to get her frazzled.—Bob Ottum
Bob Ottum2
: damaged or weakened by strain or agitation : frayed
trying to soothe frazzled nerves
Examples of frazzled in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Romanova, who worked in the debris alongside the others, wore a red headscarf and an exhausted expression and was too frazzled to even estimate her losses.
—Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2023
Aly Raisman Praises 2 Rescuers Who Saved Missing Dog Mylo: 'Such Good People'
Behar took the time to remind viewers how frazzled animals can get by the sound of fireworks.
—Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 12 July 2023
The frazzled writer eventually gets to Grand Central, where an initially frosty station attendant informs her that service has been slashed and there won’t be another train for hours.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 June 2022
Sydney, who was left frazzled and hearing the phantom printer long after the orders stopped coming in, left the kitchen to go throw up her nerves in the alley.
—Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 June 2023
Some people, rather than becoming volunteers, are simply providing informal ways to ease the daily stress of life under lockdown in Shanghai, collating useful information and guides online, making refreshments for frazzled neighbors or videos to boost morale.
—New York Times, 26 Apr. 2022
Other academic top brass also take a bow, notably the philosopher Frederik Christian Sibbern — who comes across as exactly the frazzled, approachable good guy he is reputed to have been — in a virtuosic graphite drawing by Kobke.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2023
There are plenty of ways to give priority to connection, even in this frazzled moment, says Shasta Nelson, a speaker and author of books about how to cultivate friendship in our personal lives and at work.
—Rachel Feintzeig, WSJ, 13 Mar. 2023
Our frazzled brains are elsewhere.
—Dallas News, 15 Dec. 2022
See More
Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2023
Aly Raisman Praises 2 Rescuers Who Saved Missing Dog Mylo: 'Such Good People'
Behar took the time to remind viewers how frazzled animals can get by the sound of fireworks.
—Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 12 July 2023
The frazzled writer eventually gets to Grand Central, where an initially frosty station attendant informs her that service has been slashed and there won’t be another train for hours.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 June 2022
Sydney, who was left frazzled and hearing the phantom printer long after the orders stopped coming in, left the kitchen to go throw up her nerves in the alley.
—Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 June 2023
Some people, rather than becoming volunteers, are simply providing informal ways to ease the daily stress of life under lockdown in Shanghai, collating useful information and guides online, making refreshments for frazzled neighbors or videos to boost morale.
—New York Times, 26 Apr. 2022
Other academic top brass also take a bow, notably the philosopher Frederik Christian Sibbern — who comes across as exactly the frazzled, approachable good guy he is reputed to have been — in a virtuosic graphite drawing by Kobke.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2023
There are plenty of ways to give priority to connection, even in this frazzled moment, says Shasta Nelson, a speaker and author of books about how to cultivate friendship in our personal lives and at work.
—Rachel Feintzeig, WSJ, 13 Mar. 2023
Our frazzled brains are elsewhere.
—Dallas News, 15 Dec. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frazzled.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1854, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Dictionary Entries Near frazzled
Cite this Entry
“Frazzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frazzled. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on frazzled
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share