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
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
Over the weekend, statements from both sides have started to demystify the outcomes of a meeting that was largely about resetting the tone between the world’s top economies after a fractious year that drove both to the edge of decoupling.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
Fusty and fractious Professor Bullfinch is bludgeoned with a bust of Nathaniel Hawthorne in his office at Cromwell University, throwing the faculty into a tizzy and spurring Elizabeth Cutty, the university’s president, into covering the university’s backside.
—Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
That might be fans getting to watch an athletic performance, or journalists having a chance to shine in front of a government administration that seeks to undermine them, or a fractious democracy celebrating its birthday.
—Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Over the weekend, statements from both sides have started to demystify the outcomes of a meeting that was largely about resetting the tone between the world’s top economies after a fractious year that drove both to the edge of decoupling.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
Fusty and fractious Professor Bullfinch is bludgeoned with a bust of Nathaniel Hawthorne in his office at Cromwell University, throwing the faculty into a tizzy and spurring Elizabeth Cutty, the university’s president, into covering the university’s backside.
—Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
That might be fans getting to watch an athletic performance, or journalists having a chance to shine in front of a government administration that seeks to undermine them, or a fractious democracy celebrating its birthday.
—Juliette Kayyem, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fractious
Adjective
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Striking a balance between releasing children to vetted sponsors and shielding them from danger has proved a contentious partisan disagreement.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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Striking a balance to release children to vetted sponsors and shielding them from danger has proved a contentious partisan disagreement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Several of the incidents took place in the mountains, with some people injured while out foraging for wild plants and vegetables.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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The 27-year-old tailback was the Broncos’ offensive MVP over the first 10 weeks of a wild, wacky 2025.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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The Charlotte City Council voted unanimously Monday to implement a 150-day moratorium on data centers after months of debate over how to handle the increasingly controversial projects.—
Mary Ramsey
Updated June 8,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2026
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Many voters associate candidates with controversial politicians Crime, particularly extortion, was the overarching concern for voters.—
Franklin Briceño,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Continue reading … POLITICS GROUNDED — Republicans cheer plan to choke international travel at defiant liberal hubs.—
,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
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Speaking to voters over the weekend from the picturesque resort town of Ogunquit, the Washington Examiner found an air of unease among some, in one case downright hostility, and in others defiant support.—
David Millward,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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In others, the rebellious teenager drinks elsewhere.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
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For a distillery known as much for its rebellious personality as its whisky, bringing back a bottle called Yellow Submarine feels pretty on-brand.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Conflict monitors, now watching with alarm as Islamist militants capture territory and stage attacks in Mali, urge the administration to pay closer attention to the restive Sahel region and other hot spots.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
14 May 2026
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The next national election does not have to be held until 2029, but a wipeout on Thursday could tip a restive Labour Party into revolt against its unpopular leader.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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There needs to be a willful investment in skills engagement.—
Prashant Darisi,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
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Tuesday, Brown showed exacerbation at what appears to be Boyne’s continuing and willful violation of court orders.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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However, investing in public institutions and infrastructure is a costly endeavor that can seem unreasonable when local officials are struggling to balance budgets without increasing tax burdens.—
Aneri Pattani,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
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Nineteen recent clinical trials on kratom leaf document no evidence of severe addiction or significant or unreasonable adverse effects.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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