1
as in crowded
possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified
every room in my childhood home is fraught with memories
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
had a fraught meeting with his estranged wife to discuss a divorce settlement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 fraught
With how fraught the last few years of Bieber’s life and career have been, many were curious about what the sound and themes of his new album would be.
—
Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
The film captures the visceral anger, the fraught relationships with authority, the deeply personal interpretations of a global crisis that defined those years.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 July 2025
All of them could very well result in extensions being signed in the coming days and weeks, but on what terms remains a hugely interesting question:
Luka Dončić, Lakers
Welcome to the NBA’s most fraught contract-extension discussion.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 7 July 2025
The two women couldn’t be more different, but when a wealthy matron is found dead of an apparent suicide on the rocky shore of Vermont’s Lake Champlain, their fraught relationship gradually turns into a productive collaboration, despite Olivia’s missteps.
—Liza Tully, People.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraught
Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
The film captures the visceral anger, the fraught relationships with authority, the deeply personal interpretations of a global crisis that defined those years.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 July 2025
All of them could very well result in extensions being signed in the coming days and weeks, but on what terms remains a hugely interesting question:
Luka Dončić, Lakers
Welcome to the NBA’s most fraught contract-extension discussion.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 7 July 2025
The two women couldn’t be more different, but when a wealthy matron is found dead of an apparent suicide on the rocky shore of Vermont’s Lake Champlain, their fraught relationship gradually turns into a productive collaboration, despite Olivia’s missteps.
—Liza Tully, People.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraught
Adjective
-
The downside of this route is that digital books can easily get lost in the shuffle of crowded devices.—
Vikrant Shaurya,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Also in central Gaza on Sunday, at least 12 people were killed and more than 40 injured when an Israeli airstrike targeted a crowded junction, according to Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex central Gaza City.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Pico’s other headsets are not sold in North America and ByteDance and the Trump administration have an uneasy relationship at best.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
15 July 2025
-
The carpenters’ stance has created a split in the labor movement that makes lawmakers uneasy and sometimes spills into public view.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Trump's trade deals with many countries—perhaps most notably China and the European Union—remain in tense negotiations, each one potentially affecting their manufacturing costs.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
-
One client shared how a simple practice of pausing to name their emotion before responding in a tense board meeting helped de-escalate conflict and steer the conversation toward collaboration.—
Maureen Metcalf,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
In summer 2023, Levitt booked another trip to Cuba and, once again, only packed bikinis.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
13 July 2025
-
The packed living rooms and TikTok-worthy, standing-room-only bar scenes where spectators gather to watch the show live look like sporting events.—
Cynthia Salinas Cappellano,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Scientists have found a new way to cheat the system – which is both ingenious and disturbing.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Pisciotta alleged that West’s disturbing behavior did not end after she was terminated at Yeezy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
The bar queues remain orderly, the chat is boisterous, but body odour is now rife.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
Interest in Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman was rife too, but Newcastle again acted swiftly with a strong desire to secure them after others didn’t move.—
Harry De Cosemo,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
Saturated reds and yellows can be too energizing, adding an unsettling air to your dinner party and subconsciously encouraging guests to get up and leave.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 July 2025
-
Popping up twice in an hour to the bathroom is bad enough, but it was made worse by the possibility that Thurber, ignorant of anything but the unsettling swish of the door, would address some remark to me in my absence.—
John Updike,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
My expectation is that the veteran who has been in the Octagon against some of the heaviest hitters in the UFC’s heavyweight division is going to be anxious to test the young man who only has 35 seconds of UFC fight time to his name.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
The choice of name was coincidental but Lee and Kirby were anxious to avoid any connection to radical politics.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraught. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share