fractious

adjective

Definition of fractiousnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fractious 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 For farming communities historically dependent on the coca industry, the initiative marks a shift away from years of fractious relations with the state. — Angie Acosta M, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fractious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fractious
  1. contentious
  2. wild
  3. controversial
  4. defiant
  5. rebellious
  6. restive
  7. willful
  8. uncontrollable
Adjective
  • Wendi and Markel settled their contentious divorce in 2013 without a trial.
    — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The first budget meeting typically serves as a curtain-raiser for a two-week sprint to eliminate as many contentious budget provisions as possible — often with one-time revenue sources that kick the fiscal can to another year.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • With how the current postseason schedule is set up, the Jays could get through a wild-card round and five-game series with just three starters.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Inspired by real events, the six-parter centers on the first criminal investigation in Spain into the killing of a wild animal, following the death of bear Cachou in the Pyrenees’ Aran Valley in 2020.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • So … when will the LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard finally join the Toronto Raptors and put an end to his controversial Clippers tenure?
    — Law Murray, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Another user also criticized the company in a Microsoft Learn article, and pointed to Harry Potter author JK Rowling and her controversial views on transgender people.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of controversial
Adjective
  • The attack on Sais, a Sacramento City Hall employee and liaison to City Councilmember Eric Guerra, colored an otherwise joyous and defiant Rainbow Festival this weekend in the midtown neighborhood.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Swinney has remained defiant that his style will work out in the end.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of defiant
Adjective
  • Twenty-nine years have passed since then, yet the memory of the princess—an empathetic woman who defied convention, vulnerable yet rebellious, and imbued with a profound humanity—remains vivid and very much alive in the eyes of the entire world.
    — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Next month, broader audiences will discover Halkias’s rebellious brand of humor with Uncle Stav, his latest Netflix standup special, a follow-up to 2023’s Fat Rascal.
    — Jonathan Borge, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • Midterm elections are historically challenging for a president’s party as restive voters seek change.
    — Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Pakistani security forces killed 48 militants in a series of raids on hideouts in the country's restive southwest over the past 72 hours, the military said Friday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of restive
Adjective
  • Judge Darren Steele said the state amended a charge of willful, wanton reckless driving – second offense, adjudication of guilt that carried a $1,000 fine.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, citizenship may be revoked if it was illegally procured or obtained through the concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of willful
Adjective
  • The engineer abruptly resigned after refusing to contribute to a reckless corporate competition that could ultimately lead to uncontrollable AI.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Tail Town abides by that policy and aims to educate people about uncontrollable factors that could spook a cat outdoors like cars, dogs and wildlife.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of uncontrollable

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fractious
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Cite this Entry

“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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