as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
she wore a beloved but badly frayed flannel shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in eroded
to damage or diminish by continued friction
constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of frayed
Doug Ferguson, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
The works retain visible traces of labor—knots, frayed edges, layered threads—emphasizing the physical act of making.
—Olga Garcia-Mayoral, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
The present calamity is only exacerbated by the problems that already existed in their frayed union of over 20 years — including narcissistic tendencies for him and accountability issues for her.
—Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
After six months of backpacking, Martha was feeling very Taoist, very detached, just a big naked eyeball wandering around, absorbing all the astonishing things there were to see at the frayed edges of a defunct feudal empire.
—Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Together, these ingredients temporarily seal the cuticle, minimizing the look of frayed ends without leaving behind that dreaded crunchy feeling.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Back then, gaming gear meant a sticky controller with a frayed wire and a TV that hummed louder than the game itself.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
The smooth glass finish helps prevent snagging and frayed edges, which means less breakage and longer-lasting polish.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 5 Mar. 2026
The shredded sleeves of her Ashi Studio gown, frayed edges of her Dilara Findikoglu dress, trompe-l’oeil of her Margiela, fabric twists of her Roberto Cavalli, and shaggy accents of her vintage John Galliano are key touch-points.
—Alice Cary, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2026
Justin Spike, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
The internal notice came after City Council members already saw a 3% cut to their spending across ward offices and committees this year and last year, both following challenging budget cycles that frayed relationships between aldermen and the mayor’s office.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The veil between character and self has frayed — bad behavior, even onstage, carries a frisson of shameful unease.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
But sports ties between North and South Korea have suffered as political relations frayed.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Together, Kelly and the queen made a brilliant team, only rarely falling out when tempers frayed.
—Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
But that sense of belonging has frayed.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
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
The edge, the professionalism, the unity and the joy have all frayed just enough to lower Minnesota from truly elite to maybe just good.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
That means firm greens, a fast course and frayed nerves.
—Doug Ferguson, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
The works retain visible traces of labor—knots, frayed edges, layered threads—emphasizing the physical act of making.
—Olga Garcia-Mayoral, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
The present calamity is only exacerbated by the problems that already existed in their frayed union of over 20 years — including narcissistic tendencies for him and accountability issues for her.
—Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
After six months of backpacking, Martha was feeling very Taoist, very detached, just a big naked eyeball wandering around, absorbing all the astonishing things there were to see at the frayed edges of a defunct feudal empire.
—Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Together, these ingredients temporarily seal the cuticle, minimizing the look of frayed ends without leaving behind that dreaded crunchy feeling.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Back then, gaming gear meant a sticky controller with a frayed wire and a TV that hummed louder than the game itself.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
The smooth glass finish helps prevent snagging and frayed edges, which means less breakage and longer-lasting polish.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 5 Mar. 2026
The shredded sleeves of her Ashi Studio gown, frayed edges of her Dilara Findikoglu dress, trompe-l’oeil of her Margiela, fabric twists of her Roberto Cavalli, and shaggy accents of her vintage John Galliano are key touch-points.
—Alice Cary, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Election victor Péter Magyar, a former Orbán loyalist who campaigned against corruption and on everyday issues like health care and public transport, has pledged to rebuild Hungary’s relationships with the European Union and NATO — ties that frayed under Orbán.
—Justin Spike, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
The internal notice came after City Council members already saw a 3% cut to their spending across ward offices and committees this year and last year, both following challenging budget cycles that frayed relationships between aldermen and the mayor’s office.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The veil between character and self has frayed — bad behavior, even onstage, carries a frisson of shameful unease.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
But sports ties between North and South Korea have suffered as political relations frayed.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Together, Kelly and the queen made a brilliant team, only rarely falling out when tempers frayed.
—Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
But that sense of belonging has frayed.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
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
The edge, the professionalism, the unity and the joy have all frayed just enough to lower Minnesota from truly elite to maybe just good.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frayed
Adjective
-
Many wore tattered flip-flops or shoes that offered little protection.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
-
This fresh take on the tattered monster is startlingly personal for Cronin, with some of the movie’s nastiest images and ideas rooted in his real grief.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Those scripts have been eroded.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Those recurring errors have eroded trust between the Medicaid program and the lawmakers overseeing its ever-increasing costs.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her association with Nuyorican bandleader and timbalero Tito Puente provided the perfect transition from the honeyed sheen of La Matancera to the ragged, visceral feel of Seventies salsa.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Sharp mower blades also create cleaner cuts, which helps grass retain moisture instead of losing it through ragged blade tips.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The duchess wore the 14-karat gold version (a splurge at $1,100), but there are more accessible options that still feel special.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Lagomarsini, who wore gold earrings and has arm tattoos, got organized.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If your current set is thin, faded or fraying, spring cleaning is the perfect excuse to replace them.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Deadheading faded blooms encourages new flowerheads.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frayed. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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