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
Amid the fractious national political environment, the Netflix-WBD deal has become a lightning rod for critics.
—
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
Their journey from a fractious dynamic and rocky road to fraternal camaraderie was rooted in the fact that Shawn grew up in poverty, facing constant adversity, while Jack grew up in a stable household without wants.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Politics in Chicago can be fierce and fractious.
—Scott Simon, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
But few have attracted as much scrutiny – or commentary – as Gu at a time when the US and China are in an increasingly fractious geopolitical rivalry.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 26 Feb. 2026
Their journey from a fractious dynamic and rocky road to fraternal camaraderie was rooted in the fact that Shawn grew up in poverty, facing constant adversity, while Jack grew up in a stable household without wants.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Politics in Chicago can be fierce and fractious.
—Scott Simon, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
But few have attracted as much scrutiny – or commentary – as Gu at a time when the US and China are in an increasingly fractious geopolitical rivalry.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fractious
Adjective
-
County commissioners passed a resolution in support of ICE during a contentious meeting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Israel’s deadly offensive against Hezbollah has been a contentious point in the uneasy Iran war ceasefire.—
Jennifer Hansler,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her work plainly belongs to this lineage of witchy writers, women whose deliciously corrupted scenes of home and hearth produce fear and wild laughter at once.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Sure, there were errant 3-pointers, and a wild reverse layup that was way off in the third quarter.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The question is not merely about one individual, but about the permeability of global networks — how figures with deeply rooted ties to foreign governments and controversial pasts can reemerge in influential cultural and political spaces.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
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How Polymarket is addressing controversial bets Founded in 2020, Polymarket is among a cadre of prediction markets, serving as a popular tool to crowdsource real-time data and public opinion.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Your 11th House of Hopefulness hosts Mars, which is presently sextiling defiant Uranus in your determined sign.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
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But these defiant drag houses offered safety, acceptance and glamour which were celebrated in these urban spaces.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On June 15, 1215, rebellious nobles compelled King John of England to sign the Magna Carta.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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The 8-episode first season charts the improbable ascent of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, including rebellious second son Jack, who struggles to escape the shadow of his golden boy older brother.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Already, Israeli strikes near Iran’s eastern frontier are fomenting instability in Pakistan’s restive province of Balochistan.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
9 Apr. 2026
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When four of its members (Ogoni chiefs — one of whom was my mother’s brother-in-law) were brutally killed by restive Ogoni youths, the government arrested my father and eight of his colleagues.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Fearful and self-preserving silence, nervous and embarrassed avoidance, and even willful erasure kept stories like these in the dark.—
Chad S.A. Gibbs,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
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Many seemed to view her frustrations as unearned self-victimization and willful isolation from her wealthy white castmates.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Chicago residents must not be subject to unreasonable searches and seizures.—
Tracy Baim,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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As in Williams’ case, attorneys argued that a sweep had violated the plaintiffs’ Fourth Amendment rights protecting them from unreasonable search and seizure, as well as their 14th Amendment right to due process.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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