Synonyms of frayed

frayed 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrād 

as in tattered

worn or torn into or as if into rags

she wore a beloved but badly frayed flannel shirt

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tattered
• ragged
• faded
• shabby
• raggedy
• seedy
• shredded
• threadbare
• ratty
• worn-out
• scruffy
• dingy
• dilapidated
• dowdy
• patchy
• decrepit
• mangy
• lacerate
• holey
• tacky
• grungy
• tatterdemalion
• dog-eared
• broken-down
• scuzzy
• run-down
• moth-eaten

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• new
• unused
• brand-new
• spick-and-span

frayed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of fray

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

• eroded
• wore
• rubbed
• frazzled
• chafed
• abraded
• reduced
• galled
• sharpened
• fretted
• erased
• scraped
• gnawed
• shaved
• rasped
• scuffed
• chewed
• corraded
• corroded
• ground
• sandpapered
• ate
• disintegrated
• scoured
• filed
• grated
• nibbled
• grazed
• sandblasted
• decomposed
• wiped (away)
• bit
• dissolved
• rubbed out
• wore out
• whetted
• honed
• broke down
• broke up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of frayed

Adjective

The pre-frayed hem on these stretchy flare jeans gives them a cool, Y2K feel. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026

Susan Sherren, founder of Couture Trips, said flight attendants and gate agents are just fellow humans with frayed nerves. — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

Moore’s frayed, full-volume, Barbie-pink ball gown with a distressed bow was a break from her usual structured looks. — Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Other types of natural disasters could impact Florida’s elections as well, all while the forecasting capacity of the National Weather Service has frayed under federal staffing cuts. — Jonathan Webber, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026