Synonyms of fractious

fractious

adjective

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.

Related Words

• contentious
• controversial
• feisty
• quarrelsome
• surly
• combative
• belligerent
• disputatious
• pugnacious
• polemical
• warlike
• bellicose
• truculent
• restive
• militant
• aggressive
• scrappy
• argumentative
• ornery
• wayward
• stubborn
• balky
• intractable
• recalcitrant
• gladiatorial
• uncooperative
• fighting
• insubordinate
• disobedient
• obstinate
• irritable
• fretful
• cantankerous
• refractory
• battling
• irascible
• unreasonable
• perverse
• contrary
• disagreeable
• petulant
• testy
• peevish
• headstrong
• warring
• obdurate
• uncompromising
• querulous
• resistant
• mulish
• splenetic
• unbending
• snappish
• dyspeptic
• captious
• bilious
• grouchy
• grumpy
• touchy
• waspish
• unyielding
• cross
• choleric
• hardheaded
• ill-tempered
• crabby
• acidic
• cranky
• pigheaded
• pettish
• froward
• huffy
• self-willed
• willful
• ill-humored
• bearish
• ill-natured
• self-opinionated
• rude
• snappy

Dissimilar Words

• amiable
• pleasant
• friendly
• cordial
• amicable
• benevolent
• good-natured
• genial
• easygoing
• sociable
• affable
• gracious
• peaceful
• peaceable
• cooperative
• ingratiating
• pacific
• agreeable
• conciliatory
• good-tempered
• amenable
• compliant
• acquiescent
• complying
• complaisant
• docile
• obedient
• tractable
• submissive
• obliging

2

as in wild

difficult to manage or control

Security guards were overwhelmed by the fractious crowd at the concert.

Related Words

• wild
• defiant
• rebellious
• restive
• willful
• uncontrollable
• unreasonable
• unmanageable
• stubborn
• rebel
• resistant
• unruly
• intractable
• obstreperous
• recalcitrant
• ungovernable
• wayward
• noncooperative
• balky
• bad
• insubordinate
• uncooperative
• disobedient
• mischievous
• refractory
• obstinate
• contumacious
• headstrong
• obdurate
• uncompromising
• contrary
• unbending
• mulish
• disorderly
• unyielding
• untoward
• hardheaded
• froward
• recusant
• pigheaded
• incompliant
• naughty
• errant
• undisciplined
• self-willed
• self-opinionated
• misbehaving
• monkeyish
• monkeying

Dissimilar Words

• cooperative
• amiable
• agreeable
• acquiescent
• deferential
• behaved
• yielding
• respectful
• polite
• disciplined
• well-bred
• dutiful
• obliging
• courteous
• servile
• proper
• obsequious
• subservient
• orderly
• slavish
• decorous
• manageable
• docile
• mannerly
• controllable
• tractable
• obedient
• amenable
• compliant
• submissive
• conformable
• governable
• trainable
• kowtowing
• biddable
• ruly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fractious

While sometimes fractious in the past, the Canadian federation of provinces is increasingly united in the face of international uncertainty. — Control Risks, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Although his conservative flank has a lock on power, Roberts himself has less sway than ever over an increasingly fractious Court. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Trump has had a fractious relationship for some time with Lula's administration, which has opposed him on numerous policies, particularly in the Western Hemisphere regarding Venezuela and Cuba. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Known as a progressive voice on that often-fractious body, Chan is now looking to take her approach national in the rare opening for the congressional seat. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

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