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
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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
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Recent Examples of fray
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Ahimsa won't warp, stain, crack, fray or need constant replacing.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Michael W. Sonnenfeldt, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
The old model, the one that sustained the indie ecosystem, is visibly fraying.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Noun
Various nemeses and side characters enter the fray, from Jim’s archenemy (and also Insta-famous) Pavel to the scally with a sneaker-sniffing fetish who guides Jim and Lucien to their next destination.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Ahimsa won't warp, stain, crack, fray or need constant replacing.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
Verb
In recent years, that moral and political alignment has frayed.
—Michael W. Sonnenfeldt, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
The old model, the one that sustained the indie ecosystem, is visibly fraying.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fray
Noun
-
On May 18, two armed teenagers entered the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing an armed security guard in a gun battle, then fatally shooting two men cornered in the parking lot, police said.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Staal made it 2-0 a minute and change later by winning a big boy net-front battle with Josh Anderson to pound in his second of the playoffs and continue his line’s dominance over the Canadiens.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Thankfully, none of these skirmishes affects the guests’ satisfaction with the trip.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
-
One skirmish occurred in May 2021, when members of Moms for Liberty (M4L) began to target school board meetings in Williamson County, Tennessee.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
The four women on the outside eventually got into a brawl while Cargill and Bliss continued to battle in the ring.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Bond's relative lack of experience and finesse also feeds into the chaos of all-out brawls.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
This behavior, often rewarded by leaders mistaking confidence for judgment, erodes psychological safety.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Frequent leadership changes have disrupted policy continuity, weakened executive authority, and eroded public trust in democratic institutions.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
The record of my thinking is right there in the open, teaching me tolerance for my fumbling, training me not to hide my struggle behind a seamless façade of digital perfection.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Last week, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office announced the jail will stop accepting most misdemeanor arrestees beginning July 1, pointing to struggles with the conditions at the jail and struggles dealing with overcrowding.—
Madeline Montgomery,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
With simple syrup the clash of the liqueurs is too sharp, the flavor equivalent of swords clanging together.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
-
The ruling is the latest high-profile clash between Williams and Republican officials.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Mark, on a skateboard, and Jacob, also wearing inline skates, followed a little more than an arm’s length behind.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
-
There’s a similar amount of personality within Hadspen House, where a Roman bust wears a necklace of seashells and a snug room is decorated in the colors of the croquet set outside on the lawn.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The larger federal action was still a budget-and-eligibility fight dressed up in the language of reform.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
Congress, not the budget, had the last word Behind the single lease sat a much larger fight.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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