1
as in battle
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
another generation of scientists entered the fray to find a cure for AIDS
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2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a troubled youth always getting into frays at school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
school officials broke up the fray and gave all guilty parties detention
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as in to erode
to damage or diminish by continued friction
constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fray
Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Each woman enters the fray on her own terms — Deborah cynically, Ava, performatively woke.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026
Michelle Rostamian, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
There are a lot of idea threads that fray off and don’t go anywhere.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Noun
While British royals aim to stay above the political fray, that is easier said than done.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Each woman enters the fray on her own terms — Deborah cynically, Ava, performatively woke.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
The pants feature slightly frayed, cuffed hems with an inseam that’s suitable for shorter frames, plus they’re made from stretchy denim for all-day comfort.
—Michelle Rostamian, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
There are a lot of idea threads that fray off and don’t go anywhere.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fray
Noun
-
The project is particularly acrimonious, drawing out geographical battles between north and south and thorny fights between officials who want to build the tunnel and environmentalists and Delta residents seeking to protect the local ecosystem and their way of life.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Without losing a man or a ship, Dewey’s squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in the first American naval battle against a foreign power in almost five decades.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination for the second straight game with a clutch Game 5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, but celebrations were briefly halted when a skirmish erupted over a controversial hit on Sidney Crosby after the final buzzer.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Walker, in a 10-pitch skirmish, drew a walk.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Viral videos of onboard brawls contributed to the airline’s notoriety.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Fajitagate became the moniker for a drunken brawl involving three off-duty San Francisco police officers and two men over a bag of steak fajitas.—
Richard Halstead,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
An affective reliance on chatbots will only further erode our communal bonds.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Several speakers pointed to a growing body of research showing that minor stops disproportionately affect Black and brown motorists and do little to combat violent crime while eroding public trust.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
In contrast to his offensive struggles, Ohtani has been dominant on the mound.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
But what was more surprising Monday night were Embiid’s struggles in his Sixers’ 137-98 loss to the Knicks.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
What started as a simple explanation about unplugging on flights quickly turned into a comedic clash of generations when Sherry Cola’s choice of words left Harrison Ford out of the loop.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
Despite a ceasefire between the pair, there have been clashes this week in the strait, with US forces carrying out air strikes on two empty Iranian oil tankers.—
Ellen Milligan,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The actor wore a white cutout dress that revealed a light blue undergarment with a pale pink floral print, paired with white shoes and a blue bow.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
-
Supermodels Gigi Hadid and Irina Shayk both wore revealing looks on the carpet.—
Beatrice Dupuy,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
But with a lot of hydration, proper nutrition, and Parks and Recreation rewatches in her down time, it’s made for an easy recovery routine for Rooney as the Frost fight to stay alive in the playoffs.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
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The drive to pass a post-production tax credit bill in the California legislature received a boost Friday night when the California Post Alliance announced that the Television Academy has joined the fight.—
Jon Burlingame,
Variety,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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