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
-
Voters will probably be bombarded with political ads and arguments from opposing sides as the battle intensifies.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Koh-i-Noor then spent 70 years in Afghanistan, where it was passed around by leaders who won bloody battles against one another.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 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
-
Naz Reid nearly escalated the exchange into a brawl, but the parties were ultimately separated enough to avoid ejections.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
Guns are loaded, a brawl breaks out in a bar and Rip rides away from a fire on horseback.—
Brayden Garcia
May 1,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 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
-
In some cases, the panel couldn’t even identify ICE or Border Patrol agents involved in high-profile clashes.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
The group of cyclists, who fell after the clash, collided into the side of the SUV and fell onto the pavement.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
1 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
-
The fight, though, kept getting delayed.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
While Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first Black president and a global icon – having spent 27 years in jail for his role in the fight against apartheid – his wife Winnie, who was arguably just as instrumental in that fight, has been widely maligned.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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