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 Tensions in the street are contributing to fractious politics ahead of a presidential race overshadowed by debt that will determine Emmanuel Macron’s successor. — Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026 When daily life can feel quite bruising and fractious, documentaries skillfully encourage us to let our guard down and connect with real-life stories and people… sometimes challenging, often invigorating, and always meaningful. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 Hochul has mended her once-fractious relationship with progressives in NYC and statewide, a key of the Democratic coalition, and has forged a close partnership with Mayor Mamdani after years of tension with ex-Mayor Eric Adams. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026 Like so much in our fractious public discourse these days, the Inland Empire’s mysterious wild donkey herds are sparking fierce, sometimes scary debate. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 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
  • Another particularly contentious ad released last month featured two local politicians calling on Vang to be fired.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The more contentious scenario would be akin to 1976, when Republicans filibustered until a new election was held for a Senate seat in New Hampshire.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • Unpacking Meta's wild week Meta delivered a strong third quarter Wednesday evening, but worries about negative free cash flow and its AI spending needs upstaged strong guidance and a promising roadmap for its viral Muse AI agent.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The film is a wild, frequently grotesque spectacle that careens between horror, action, slapstick, and black comedy.
    — Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • But Lamont says the consumers are actually paying less this year than last year due to the complicated nuances of the controversial public benefits charges.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The agency has become controversial over aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that precipitated a government shutdown earlier this year.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of controversial
Adjective
  • Macklemore's defiant remarks drew mixed reactions online, with some social media users applauding his outspoken activism while others questioned his motives and accused him of being out of touch.
    — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Israeli and American leaders have been sharpening their threats before elections in both countries, while Iranian leaders have remained defiant.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of defiant
Adjective
  • The selection also features Dutch director Sabine Lubbe Bakker’s Premier Souffle, exploring whether a rebellious outsider can find her place in the world after years of isolation from her community.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Five years earlier my brother had gotten married, leaving me home alone without the buffers of his distracted affection, his big brotherly insouciance, his rebellious indifference to the emotional chasm widening between our parents.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • Mattel thwarted restive shareholders by inviting one of them to come inside and play.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Pakistani security forces killed five militants in an intense shootout and freed 23 hostages in the country’s restive southwest, the military said Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of restive
Adjective
  • The smaller company won, with a jury determining willful infringement and a district court granting a permanent injunction preventing further sales.
    — Coke Morgan Stewart, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Under federal law, citizenship obtained through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation can be revoked through civil denaturalization proceedings.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of willful
Adjective
  • The Persian Gulf state has declared force majeure — citing unexpected, uncontrollable events preventing contracts from being honored — every month since the March attack.
    — Spencer Kimball,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • About 20% of those in the study reported fatigue, rash, diarrhea, and uncontrollable itching.
    — Alice Park, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncontrollable

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Cite this Entry

“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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