1
as in contentious
given to disagreement or irritation
At the end of what was a fractious campaign, the two former rivals were surprisingly able to settle some of their differences and work together.
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2
as in wild
difficult to manage or control
Security guards were overwhelmed by the fractious crowd at the concert.
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Recent Examples of fractious
But the fractious fights on the right — especially when the president wades into the races — may not be completely solved even when the nominee is selected.
—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
31 May 2026
The last thing Newcastle wanted was a repeat of Alexander Isak’s slow and fractious defection to Liverpool last year.
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Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Much of the story is driven by Anne and Ginny's complicated and fractious relationship, made even more fraught by the elephant in the room of Nick's estate and a brand new baby on the way.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
The city’s population was diverse and fractious, with religious and ethnic groups who spoke Russian, Polish, Belarusian, German, Yiddish, and Hebrew, and often came to blows with one another.
—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
31 May 2026
The last thing Newcastle wanted was a repeat of Alexander Isak’s slow and fractious defection to Liverpool last year.
—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Much of the story is driven by Anne and Ginny's complicated and fractious relationship, made even more fraught by the elephant in the room of Nick's estate and a brand new baby on the way.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
The city’s population was diverse and fractious, with religious and ethnic groups who spoke Russian, Polish, Belarusian, German, Yiddish, and Hebrew, and often came to blows with one another.
—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fractious
Adjective
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This is not so different from the Founders’ vision of democracy, in which a federal system with independent, coequal branches of government forces collisions of competing interests that can get contentious, even chaotic, before compromises are forged.
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But with the Turnberry Agreement finally finding its footing, a reopening of wounds and a reignition of a contentious trade battle has likely held little appeal for the EU.
Adjective
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The new iteration sees The Cat in the Hat, voiced by Bill Hader, fighting for his job as a professional mischief-maker brought in to cheer up lackluster children after his wild antics go to far.
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Situated in western Canada’s Alberta province, a tapestry of the Rocky Mountains serves as the backdrop across this wild frontier of limestone giants and ancient glaciers.
Adjective
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New signs are emerging that the controversial Alligator Alcatraz detention center in the Florida Everglades may soon shut down, despite conflicting messages from state officials in recent weeks.
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The trial was one of the most anticipated in recent years due to Pino’s prominence in South Florida and because the investigation was controversial from the start.
Adjective
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To a defiant Son, however, the party hasn’t even started.
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Terri Hupfer, draped in a Pride flag and a Giants’ issued Pride T-shirt, drove 90 minutes from her Delta home to join Tuesday’s pregame gathering, which was organized online and drew more media and police than defiant (or supportive) fans.
Adjective
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To promote the new launch, the duo teamed up on a campaign captured on the streets of Paris by photographer Daniel Roché, with the aim of creating a series of images that reflects the fusion of youth culture and a cool, rebellious edge, Asics said.
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The last of the rebellious slaveholding states was finally under federal control.
Adjective
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Social-welfare programs had kept the working classes from becoming restive.
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The design is done, restive partners are onboard, technical conundrums have been resolved, and the check just might be in the mail.
Adjective
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The film, which details her life in Tehran as the willful daughter of intellectual Marxists, is a reminder that Iranians are just like everyone else, Satrapi told the Associated Press in a 2007 interview in Cannes.
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The teenager was arrested for 12 counts of willful/malicious kill/maim/torture animal -- horse and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000, authorities said.
Adjective
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Those fears are not unreasonable, either, given the ability of AI to do so many things so well.
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Horn’s assessment wasn’t unreasonable; it was based on recent statements by Greenlandic politicians.
Cite this Entry
“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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