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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fractious
The battle between mother and child went on and on for weeks; not the least fractious were the violent discussions about personal pronouns.
—
Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
Gutfeld's visit comes against the backdrop of a politically fractious moment in late-night.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
That Tajzadeh’s appeal bridges Iran’s fractious opposition was evident in the reaction to his most recent sentencing.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2025
Johnson emerged as an unlikely unity candidate—a low-profile figure with few enemies in a fractious conference.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
Gutfeld's visit comes against the backdrop of a politically fractious moment in late-night.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
That Tajzadeh’s appeal bridges Iran’s fractious opposition was evident in the reaction to his most recent sentencing.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2025
Johnson emerged as an unlikely unity candidate—a low-profile figure with few enemies in a fractious conference.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fractious
Adjective
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The contentious issue, which was regarded as a momentous turning point when it was adopted by the European Union in 2023, has been a hot topic at the IAA Mobility auto show in Munich this week.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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One of those was his contentious divorce with his first wife Denise Richards.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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July through September brings the most color, and wild sunflowers are well-known for growing here.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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John Mitani is a professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Michigan, whose studies over 45 years have included wild chimpanzees in Uganda and Tanzania; gibbons and orangutans in Indonesia, gorillas in Rwanda, and bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The plaintiffs argued the displacement was motivated by a desire to limit readers' access to books with viewpoints that are unpopular and controversial in the area.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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McLaren made a controversial decision at the Italian Grand Prix, swapping Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's positions at the end of the race.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But to Hollywood, Pusser’s defiant story was irresistible.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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A day earlier, at his pre-match news conference, Pochettino sounded defensive and defiant.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Written by Kaitlin Reilly and Dorian Keyes, the film follows a rebellious bad boy and a type-A overachiever who join forces to win the student body presidency – and maybe each other’s hearts along the way.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
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In business, as in life, there are times when conformity is an asset, but in others, embracing your individuality, inhabiting your rebellious spirit and being a true trailblazer are what lead to success.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Beijing’s approach to Tibet parallels its efforts to control minority populations in other restive regions of China.—
Tenzin Dorjee,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2025
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Just as the Kremlin sought to quell dissent against its vicious campaign in the restive republic, so, too, has a deafening silence accompanied its Ukraine folly.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The result is a book of willful delirium, one that deconstructs its own narrative.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
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Huger was ultimately charged with a DUI and DWI, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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We're protected from unreasonable searches and seizures.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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This is a crude and unreasonable attempt to make the discussion into an all-or-nothing affair.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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