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
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Recent Examples of frayed
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The star of The Devil Wears Prada 2 stepped out in New York City wearing a pair of light blue baggy jeans with frayed hems.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar named the key ministers for his new government who will help shoulder the task of repairing frayed European ties and relaunching a stagnant economy.
—Thomas Escritt, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
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
George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Daniel still has these tracings today, rolled tightly and frayed at the edges.
—Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
People still were tired, tempers frayed.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
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
The April state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla of Britain (more properly the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland) and the Commonwealth (formerly the British Empire) provides an opportunity to repair relations frayed mainly by the Iran War.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Hungarian premier-elect Peter Magyar’s incoming cabinet plans to cut taxes for low earners and held talks to repair ties with banks that frayed under Viktor Orban’s tumultuous 16 years in power.
—Andras Gergely, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
The coalition of supporters that made this strategy work has frayed, and new research is raising concerns about the health impact of regular cannabis use.
—William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Adjective
Keeping these appliances plugged in increases the risk of an electrical fire from any broken circuits or frayed wires and malfunctions.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The star of The Devil Wears Prada 2 stepped out in New York City wearing a pair of light blue baggy jeans with frayed hems.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar named the key ministers for his new government who will help shoulder the task of repairing frayed European ties and relaunching a stagnant economy.
—Thomas Escritt, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
The writer is expected to bond with a new steward who had no part in the original creative conversation, who may have entirely different instincts about the material, and who inherits a relationship already frayed by the impersonal mechanics of a deal that took forever to close.
—George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Daniel still has these tracings today, rolled tightly and frayed at the edges.
—Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
People still were tired, tempers frayed.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
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
The April state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla of Britain (more properly the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland) and the Commonwealth (formerly the British Empire) provides an opportunity to repair relations frayed mainly by the Iran War.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Hungarian premier-elect Peter Magyar’s incoming cabinet plans to cut taxes for low earners and held talks to repair ties with banks that frayed under Viktor Orban’s tumultuous 16 years in power.
—Andras Gergely, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
The coalition of supporters that made this strategy work has frayed, and new research is raising concerns about the health impact of regular cannabis use.
—William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frayed
Adjective
-
The sweater now has a deep V-neck with stylishly tattered edges, which Andy pairs with a button-down shirt and jeans.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
-
For Chicago, the shocking crimes are noteworthy contributors to its tattered national reputation — fair or not — for being unsafe and for criminal-justice policies perceived as being concerned more with the rights of those accused than the interests of those victimized.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, economists have said these sanctions have eroded favorability toward the dollar from some of America’s adversaries.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
-
Giuliani’s time in office was marked by a crackdown on crime, but race relations eroded as Giuliani defended the police against accusations of bias and brutality.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Few have gotten more out of three ragged chords than Diamond did in his first Top 10 single.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
By 1900, the Irish-speaking areas were a ragged patchwork of smallish standalone zones, clinging to the island’s western and southern shores.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Hailey Bieber wore a custom Saint Laurent dress featuring a gold bodice and a blue skirt and a matching blue cape.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
-
Instead of opting for a body-hugging gown, Kim Kardashian went wore a bright orange metallic body plate from the ’60s designed by Allen Jones.—
Beatrice Dupuy,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
Jenner opted to wear a pair of faded yellow jeans, a Guizio white tank top and a belly chain.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
For the second time in a week, the Dodgers made a minor-league acquisition of a faded pitching prospect with impressive velocity but poor control.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frayed. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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