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
Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 June 2026
As for other new creatures, fans can expect Riftborne Bazelgeuse to join the fray.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 11 June 2026
The commercial-grade knitted fabric is designed to resist tearing and fraying.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Noun
Graham has handily won each of his reelection bids in the past, but his support for Israel and the Iran war has created an opening for other conservatives to enter the fray.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 June 2026
As for other new creatures, fans can expect Riftborne Bazelgeuse to join the fray.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Verb
But at the end of season three, cracks begin to show, and our favorite couple begins to fray and fissure.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 11 June 2026
The commercial-grade knitted fabric is designed to resist tearing and fraying.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fray
Noun
-
After several years as an orphan, Pumphrey died in a South Caroline pine forest on August 16, 1780, in what was one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Aegon was severely injured by Aemond and Vhagar in that battle.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Continue reading … — Two arrested as skirmishes erupt outside courthouse after Karmelo Anthony verdict.—
,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
One of those skirmishes, in fact, involved Childress himself, in 2011 at Kansas Speedway, when the then-65-year-old car owner for an opposing team got into a physical altercation with Busch after an on-track incident.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2026
Noun
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Cobb lives across the street from where the brawl happened.—
Brittney Ermon,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
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Like all of the film’s most fist-pumping setpieces, of which there are several, the getaway brawl is a fevered array of different fighting styles that smash into each other like concrete blocks to create something faintly new.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The oil supply shock caused by the Iran war has eroded global demand for crude — but a lasting resolution to the conflict could drive a surge in supply volumes and trigger a major oil overhang next year, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
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As retailers race to modernize their stores, a new report from Coresight Research reveals a rapidly shifting business landscape beneath their feet, where inefficiencies are eroding profits.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
Noun
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The couple also has been open about their struggle with IVF in recent years.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
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The family’s legal struggles have loomed large over the last several years, but Steven says two moments in particular stand out as the most difficult.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
This is not the company's first clash with Washington.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
The clash comes as prediction markets push for mainstream legitimacy despite a series of insider trading allegations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Trudeau embraced the Southern California vibes and wore a green T-shirt with black shorts and a pair of dark sunglasses.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
-
When a group of six fans wearing white t-shirts with the pre-revolution flag emblazoned on the fronts tried to enter, they were stopped by a security staffer, who called over her supervisor.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Most baseball fights produce a little shoving, occasional hugging, some dancing and pulled powderpuff punches.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
-
Coming just three days after launch, and after tech leaders and social media influencers showcased Fable’s leap in performance over earlier models, the sudden block has become a larger fight over who decides when an AI system is too powerful for open access.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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