1
as in battle
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
another generation of scientists entered the fray to find a cure for AIDS
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2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a troubled youth always getting into frays at school
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
school officials broke up the fray and gave all guilty parties detention
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as in to erode
to damage or diminish by continued friction
constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fray
Nick Romano, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025
His backtracking did not stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from entering the fray.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Apr. 2025
The rug is finished with a cotton and latex backing that ensures its durability and prevents it from fraying or unraveling.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fray
Noun
Marvel also signaled that they aren't done with the casting reveals for Doomsday, so there may even be more X-Men figures joining the fray ahead of Secret Wars.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025
His backtracking did not stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from entering the fray.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
Further fraying the relationship between the two sides, in early 2020, Mr. Trump ordered the drone strike that killed Iran’s revered Revolutionary Guard Qods Force commander, Brig.
—Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Apr. 2025
The rug is finished with a cotton and latex backing that ensures its durability and prevents it from fraying or unraveling.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fray
Noun
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This, after an epic indoor fireworks battle — among other shenanigans — had the place looking like a warzone in videos.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
8 May 2025
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In the Trump-Europe trade wars, the battle so far has been focused on goods: Trump’s tariffs on German cars and French champagne have been met with tit-for-tat threats to boost levies on all-American booze and motor vehicles, from Kentucky bourbon to Harley Davidson motorcycles.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2025
Noun
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But the pause comes amid a backdrop of daily skirmishes, largely by drone warfare.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Not about the economic turmoil from tariffs, any one of the skirmishes playing out abroad, or a surprise shake-up in his White House staff.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Listen to this article A 19-year-old has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in the Bronx after an argument outside a pizza parlor turned into an all-out brawl, police said Thursday.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2025
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So, too, was Gordon, Christian Braun, Jokić and other Nuggets nearly getting into a full-on brawl with James Harden and the Clippers on the last possession of the first half.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The other is a more nebulous worry that programmable money, by definition, erodes individual autonomy.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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There is no question that high tariffs will erode Chinese exporters’ access to the U.S. market.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Since then Hutchinson has maintained that the murders were committed by two home invaders and that the family was killed in a struggle.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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The Tower is not always an omen of hardship and struggle.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 May 2025
Noun
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The following day, however, Mercury will meet Mars in a stubborn square, triggering a clash between the need for practicality and discernment versus the desire to express oneself boldly and with pride.—
Staff Author,
People.com,
1 May 2025
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India has been a nuclear power for over 50 years, possessing an arsenal that is publicly clandestine but capable in warfare—notably against its neighboring country, Pakistan, amid their decades-long clash over Kashmir.—
Nick Mordowanec
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Famously, stage and film star Sir Sean Connery openly discussed wearing a headpiece in all of his James Bond roles.—
Rhiannon Frater,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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Chrissy was a classy birthday girl, wearing a beige corset-style skirt and top with a matching trench coat and sunglasses.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The court appearance had stalled last month due to a fight over access to a parole document.—
Karim Doumar,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2025
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But in his first homily on Friday since being made leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo highlighted the church’s fight against rising atheism.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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