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
For similar reasons, Seftel keeps politics outside the frame – those extremely fractious debates over gun rights and gun protections that can render young victims of shootings an afterthought.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
These are fractious times for the fraternal duos of filmmaking.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
The variety of politics that preoccupied the literary scene in New York turned out to be fractious, blinkered, and less than helpful on almost every front, including the artistic.
—Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
At a presentation held Tuesday for media in New York, Mark Marshall, chairman of global advertising and partnerships for NBCUniversal, noted NBCU’s focus on big, buzzy live event franchises has momentum even at a fractious time for media.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
These are fractious times for the fraternal duos of filmmaking.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
The variety of politics that preoccupied the literary scene in New York turned out to be fractious, blinkered, and less than helpful on almost every front, including the artistic.
—Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
At a presentation held Tuesday for media in New York, Mark Marshall, chairman of global advertising and partnerships for NBCUniversal, noted NBCU’s focus on big, buzzy live event franchises has momentum even at a fractious time for media.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fractious
Adjective
-
His margin of victory was 481 votes, and he was declared the winner several weeks after the election following a contentious recount.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The Clippers also traded Chris Paul, who hadn’t been with the team since November after his return turned contentious amid the early struggles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
China is home to the largest population of wild snow leopards in the world, according to the Snow Leopard Trust, with the country harboring the majority of the global population.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The Lakers were swept by Chicago in their two-game series last season, including a wild 119-117 loss at the United Center on Josh Giddey's half-court shot at the buzzer.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some figures indicated that iPhone users were still avoiding upgrading despite this risk, citing multiple bugs and the controversial Liquid Glass as a reason for staying on an insecure operating system version.—
Kate O'Flaherty,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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At times, the process was controversial as there were a lot of differing opinions about the content.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Other defiant moments on a global stage The NFL has long maintained guardrails around the halftime show, particularly when performances edge toward political commentary.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
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Bill and Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify in person to a Republican congressional investigation into notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, apparently ending their defiant campaign of resistance.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Your 6th House of Labor hosts mental Mercury, which squares rebellious Uranus in your 9th House of Journeys, stirring tension between tradition and modernization.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
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Lang went on to appear in most of Fuller’s films, including playing a rebellious German countess in his 1980 war epic The Big Red One, and several by their friend Wim Wenders.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These elevated plants can be styled year-round with restive ribbons, colorful stones, or subtle seasonal accents to match your porch vibe.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Jan. 2026
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The protests have spread to Iranian provinces as far west as Ilam, a Kurdish-majority region bordering Iraq, and Lorestan, both which have emerged as restive hotspots.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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And his time was one too of witnessing the willful destruction of entire cultures, the taking of lands, the Trail of Tears.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
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The fundamental flaw in the TrumpRx model lies in a misunderstanding — or perhaps a willful misrepresentation — of how most Americans pay for their prescription medications.—
Ryan N. Hansen,
STAT,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Fourth Amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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Those are clear violations of the Fourth Amendment’s safeguards against unreasonable searches and seizures, which were adopted to prevent the exercise of arbitrary government power.—
Yohuru Williams,
The Conversation,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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