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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of frayed
Wendell Wallach,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
The memento, sourced from a Salvation Army, does show some signs of use in the film, including staining, frayed fringe, and some loose threads.
—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
24 June 2026
Meghan's pussybow button-down featured an optical illusion in the form of a double collar, as well as a frayed black ribbon at the neckline.
—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
11 June 2026
Look for appliances with frayed or cracked cords and get rid of them.
—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
Clemente suggests looking out for frayed or damaged cords, cracked plugs, unusual warmth, buzzing noises, burning smells, or discoloration around outlets.
—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
9 June 2026
When my grandchildren were around recently, Marie was gritting her teeth because her nerves were so frayed.
—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
The backstory The 1 Hotel has taken over what was formerly the Hotel Vitale, which always had fabulous bones (lots of windows, spacious guest rooms) but had been feeling a little frayed for the last few years of its existence.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
From then on, relationships became frayed and strained.
—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Nicole Winfield,
Fortune,
20 June 2026
Meloni is astonished and defiant Trump’s posturing underscored how his alliance with Meloni — who has long been seen as one of his closest friends in Europe — has frayed over his war in Iran, his tariffs against Europe and his complaints when anyone disagrees with him.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Patience is tried; tempers are frayed.
—
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
His nerves were frayed and his sleep suffered.
—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
So when the seventh inning rolled around, his nerves were not frayed.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
The traditional political alliances are frayed, at best, with socialists backing a billionaire and Trump supporting an immigrant.
—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
30 May 2026
Dalton and Bhaskaran left the edges rough and frayed along the hem and through the cutaway sections, keeping the dress from reading as straight princess fantasy despite the color and scale.
—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
16 May 2026
Bessent's visit comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Tokyo have frayed, following Takaichi's comments in November that indicated Tokyo would support Taiwan if threatened by Beijing's military, drawing a sharp response from Beijing.
—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Adjective
The post-World War II liberal consensus is badly frayed and may well implode.
—
Wendell Wallach,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
The memento, sourced from a Salvation Army, does show some signs of use in the film, including staining, frayed fringe, and some loose threads.
—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
24 June 2026
Meghan's pussybow button-down featured an optical illusion in the form of a double collar, as well as a frayed black ribbon at the neckline.
—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
11 June 2026
Look for appliances with frayed or cracked cords and get rid of them.
—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
Clemente suggests looking out for frayed or damaged cords, cracked plugs, unusual warmth, buzzing noises, burning smells, or discoloration around outlets.
—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
9 June 2026
When my grandchildren were around recently, Marie was gritting her teeth because her nerves were so frayed.
—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
The backstory The 1 Hotel has taken over what was formerly the Hotel Vitale, which always had fabulous bones (lots of windows, spacious guest rooms) but had been feeling a little frayed for the last few years of its existence.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
From then on, relationships became frayed and strained.
—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Verb
Trump’s posturing underscored how his alliance with Meloni — long seen as one of his closest friends in Europe — has frayed over his war in Iran, his tariffs against Europe and his complaints when anyone disagrees with him.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Fortune,
20 June 2026
Meloni is astonished and defiant Trump’s posturing underscored how his alliance with Meloni — who has long been seen as one of his closest friends in Europe — has frayed over his war in Iran, his tariffs against Europe and his complaints when anyone disagrees with him.
—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Patience is tried; tempers are frayed.
—
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
His nerves were frayed and his sleep suffered.
—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
So when the seventh inning rolled around, his nerves were not frayed.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
The traditional political alliances are frayed, at best, with socialists backing a billionaire and Trump supporting an immigrant.
—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
30 May 2026
Dalton and Bhaskaran left the edges rough and frayed along the hem and through the cutaway sections, keeping the dress from reading as straight princess fantasy despite the color and scale.
—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
16 May 2026
Bessent's visit comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Tokyo have frayed, following Takaichi's comments in November that indicated Tokyo would support Taiwan if threatened by Beijing's military, drawing a sharp response from Beijing.
—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frayed
Adjective
-
There was a phone book, camera film canisters, metal pins, the tattered remains of a baseball cap and an orange t-shirt with the outline of a giant thumbs up.
-
His main challenge will be to overcome Starmer's inability to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.
Verb
-
Beyond hiring and leadership decisions, trust is also built or eroded through everyday behavior.
-
Starmer is leaving after two years in office marred by missteps and judgment errors that eroded his standing with his party and the public.
Adjective
-
This leaves ragged and bruised leaf tips behind that quickly turn brown and are more susceptible to disease.
-
His hushed, ragged whisper feels suitably weathered, fitting a collection of songs that never are in a hurry.
Verb
-
Most opponents wore red, the color that has united grassroots organizations across the city against data centers.
-
Paltrow wore a black, strapless gown and buckled slippers, while Martin sported a two-tone brown-and-blue sweater over a white T-shirt, with brown corduroy pants and a stylishly thin belt.
Adjective
-
Directed by Son Jae-gon and starring Gang Dong-won, Uhm Tae-goo, and Park Ji-hyun, the film tracks a faded first-generation K-pop co-ed dance trio making a reckless attempt to stage a comeback two decades after a plagiarism scandal dissolved their careers.
-
The one difference was a new layer of red bricks over the faded previous layer.
Cite this Entry
“Frayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frayed. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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