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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of fray
Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
Some across the region were recently briefed on the possibility that Houthi rebels based in Yemen could enter the fray, should Tehran order the militant group to attack in the Red Sea, the person said.
—Andrea Mitchell, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 16 Mar. 2026
China’s own commitment to open source might also be fraying at the edges.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Noun
In the escalating war in Iran, the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs would ordinarily be at the center of the geopolitical fray.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
Some across the region were recently briefed on the possibility that Houthi rebels based in Yemen could enter the fray, should Tehran order the militant group to attack in the Red Sea, the person said.
—Andrea Mitchell, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
As the alerts frayed the nerves of residents, and the air defense system proved its mettle, the UAE authorities changed their approach.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 16 Mar. 2026
China’s own commitment to open source might also be fraying at the edges.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fray
Noun
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At the time of the initial gun battle, the MacEgans were on an afternoon walk through a nearby field.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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So California may be readying to wage a two-front battle — the familiar one against smog, but a second, altogether new one, against an administration determined to let California get smoggy again.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In a dangerous escalation from cross-border skirmishes, Pakistan launched air strikes at the end of February, targeting major cities including Kabul.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
24 Mar. 2026
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The Peaky Blinders don’t really lose any men at all in this skirmish.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Their rivalry reached its peak in 2018, when the two engaged in an on-court brawl during a matchup between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
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Abbott, Patrick brawl over complete ban The debate over a complete ban on THC was one of the most high-profile issues in the Texas Legislature's regular session last year.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The speakers also argued the move will push people to work without a license and erode state oversight of crucial industries.—
ALEJANDRO SERRANO The Texas Tribune,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
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Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman, executive director of Child Care For CT, said that the Manchester closure reflects broader pressures eroding the existing care infrastructure.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Now this artist, who is devoted to depicting the Chicano struggle, says removing Chavez from artwork may be the only choice.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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The reality is there wasn’t much in reserve in the middle, with it another struggle for Kel’el Ware.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In Dallas, at least one person was detained after a clash with counter-protesters.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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The massive expansion of enforcement operations drew local resistance from activists, leading to clashes with federal agents and the deaths of residents Good and Pretti during confrontations with ICE and Border Patrol.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At a demonstration in Hangzhou, an operator wearing a motion-capture suit carried out a series of actions, including waving, turning, and kicking a ball, while Titan 01 replicated every movement within milliseconds.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
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For example, people now take care to wear shoes at home in case an explosion shatters glass, or there’s a need to evacuate immediately.—
Jason Rezaian,
New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Internally, Mead Johnson conceded it had been beaten in the fight over fortifiers.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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The risk When Manfred took over as MLB commissioner 11 years ago, baseball had long been surpassed by football as the country’s most popular sport and was in an existential fight to stay relevant to younger fans.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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