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 Japan in the late ’60s was a fractious place with riots. — Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 17 June 2026 The circumstances surrounding the exits vary, ranging from routine retirements, campus controversies, personal peccadillos, serious health issues, fractious relationships between campus leaders and governing boards, and visions of greener pastures. — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 But the fractious fights on the right — especially when the president wades into the races — may not be completely solved even when the nominee is selected. — Stephen Fowler, NPR, 31 May 2026 The last thing Newcastle wanted was a repeat of Alexander Isak’s slow and fractious defection to Liverpool last year. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 28 May 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. unreasonable
Adjective
  • These groups tackle politically contentious issues like immigration, human rights, and the environment.
    — Michael Posner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • However, the bill was so contentious that in order to squeak it through, legislators stuffed it full of carve-outs and exemptions, allowing cities to delay implementation by passing their own plans to add density.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • The Royals beat the Mets 16-12 on Tuesday night in New York in their wildest game of the year.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
  • And the sequence started a wild end to the Dodgers’ first extra-innings game of the season.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • The use of standardized testing for admissions was eliminated by the UC regents in a controversial 2020 vote.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • With ultra-slim Republican margins in the House and Senate, lawmakers are having a tough time completing the basics of legislating, let alone passing any controversial bills.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of controversial
Adjective
  • This includes the iconic moment when the American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a defiant Black Power salute during the US National Anthem at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.
    — James Rampton, TheWeek, 9 July 2026
  • Platner’s defiant departure on Wednesday raised doubts that Democrats could unify behind a replacement, threatening their chances of taking control of the Senate in the midterm elections.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of defiant
Adjective
  • For seven seasons, a hodgepodge crew mixing Starfleet and the rebellious Maquis put aside their differences after they got zapped 70,000 lightyears away from Earth, deep into the uncharted Delta Quadrant.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
  • This could bring about sudden ideas, or trigger rebellious impulses and creative imagination.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • Iran’s new leaders are acutely aware that Iranians remain restive and expect the government to ease their economic plight.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2026
  • However, while voters are restive and angry, this ungovernability cannot all be blamed on them.
    — Ian King, CNBC, 24 June 2026
Definition of restive
Adjective
  • In 2018, the IRS closed the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP), ending the formal disclosure program designed primarily for taxpayers with potential criminal exposure or willful violations relating to unreported offshore holdings.
    — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Federal law generally prohibits direct service connection for addiction classified as resulting from willful misconduct.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Definition of willful
Adjective
  • His certification is temporarily suspended due to excessive or unreasonable force from the incident, according to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
    — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • Your request for back-to-back weeks off at the last minute is unreasonable.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Definition of unreasonable

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Cite this Entry

“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of fractious for Spanish Speakers

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