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
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Recent Examples of fray
Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Delivery’s here Now, DoorDash is entering the fray with its SevenRooms acquisition.
—Amelia Lucas,ryan Baker, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2026
Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Instead of shorter threads that can fray over time, this fabric is made of extra-long staple cotton sateen for an ultra-soft and durable feel.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Noun
Expect even more teams to join the fray by fall.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Delivery’s here Now, DoorDash is entering the fray with its SevenRooms acquisition.
—Amelia Lucas,ryan Baker, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
Relations in the mobile home started to fray.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Instead of shorter threads that can fray over time, this fabric is made of extra-long staple cotton sateen for an ultra-soft and durable feel.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fray
Noun
-
Calamia won that battle — and then won first place in the race days later.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Former President Barack Obama is promoting a Democratic effort to redraw congressional lines in Virginia, the latest front in a nationwide redistricting battle ahead of this year's midterm elections.—
MEG KINNARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While the skirmish was going on, Tre White had to be held back by KU assistant Tony Bland, and White did not seem pleased as the two exchanged some words.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
-
What happened Pakistan’s military Sunday escalated days of violent skirmishes with Afghanistan by launching airstrikes on Bagram Air Base, according to Afghan officials.—
Peter Weber,
TheWeek,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Videos circulating on social media captured one protester rushing into the vigil and attempting to tear down a poster, resulting in a brawl between the two groups that prompted the New York City Police Department to intervene.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Mar. 2026
-
As the brawl unfolded, the crowd could be heard shouting profanity.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Blue Owl is a significant direct lender to the sector, which has been shaken by concerns that rapidly advancing AI tools could erode traditional SaaS business models.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
-
On her island home in the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, the shoreline has visibly retreated within her short lifetime, with beaches eroded, coastal trees uprooted and some homes now barely 3 feet (about 1 meter) from the sea at high tide.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The matchup between the two incumbent Republicans highlights a greater struggle of generational change that both parties are facing.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
-
For many in the middle and lower tiers, simply staying afloat now feels like a struggle.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On Friday night, three people were taken into custody amid a clash between pro-Iranian regime demonstrators, who erected a shrine to the slain Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the former supreme leader of Iran, and anti-Khamenei protesters at Washington Square Park.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The recent developments evoke the clash of civilizations theory developed by Samuel Huntington in the 1990s.—
Debidatta A. Mahapatra,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Police released an image captured from a surveillance video showing a person wearing dark clothes and a backpack, with their face covered.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Liu’s jacket—worn open over a white crewneck tee—featured a breast pocket bearing the house’s telltale LV monogram.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Seizures, fights also reported on calls Most of the 911 calls were made by the camp’s contract medical staff.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Pinkston player Charles Riley (12) and Kimball player Kayden Gray (00) fight to control the ball during a Kimball High School versus Pinkston High School boys basketball playoff game at the Ellis Davis Field House in Dallas, Texas, on Mar 6, 2026.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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