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
Greg Cote
october 2, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Kōnane cackles with the frayed voice of a centuries-old elder.
—Matt Negrin, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Investigators later recovered additional skeletal remains along with Levi’s jeans, a frayed leather coat, a leather belt with beadwork, two metal rings and a clog-style shoe.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Employees must wear khaki, black or blue denim bottoms without patterns or frayed hems or solid black dresses that are not more than 4 inches above the knee.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
That’s why new parents should set some grandparenting ground rules as soon as possible to avoid nasty arguments and frayed relationships down the road, according to bestselling author and parenting expert Esther Wojcicki.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
New member Kiirii also admits to frayed nerves while mentally preparing for the shoot.
—Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2025
In terms of wear, neither Baker or Alpert notice any shrinkage or frayed threads.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 22 Aug. 2025
Perform a visual inspection Look for cracked or frayed cables or other obvious signs of damage.
—Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
His trousers were too long, and the hems were frayed.
—Lisa K. Friedman, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
The international treaties and regimes that govern nuclear issues, particularly the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), are badly frayed.
—Mariano-Florentino CuÉllar, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
American health-care systems already frayed by a brutal pandemic are being dismantled further, and Americans’ antipathy for one another is having deadly effects on children and families.
—Rachel Pearson, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Its light wash and frayed raw hem look reminds me of the pair the lifestyle guru wore, and the ankle-skimming length is great for showing off a cute pair of sneakers, booties, or slip-on sandals.
—Averi Baudler, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
So going back and exploring how Ben and Raife’s partnership frayed also became a foundation for season one of Dark Wolf.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
And over the years being taken for granted, that relationship frayed.
—ABC News, 24 Aug. 2025
Our culture is frayed, our institutions are weak and civic virtue is hard to find.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
At last Chiefs-Jags won by a single vote as the panel repaired to the Quill & Swill Pub to mend frayed feelings with old friend Jim Beam.
—Greg Cote
october 2, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Kōnane cackles with the frayed voice of a centuries-old elder.
—Matt Negrin, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Investigators later recovered additional skeletal remains along with Levi’s jeans, a frayed leather coat, a leather belt with beadwork, two metal rings and a clog-style shoe.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
Employees must wear khaki, black or blue denim bottoms without patterns or frayed hems or solid black dresses that are not more than 4 inches above the knee.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
That’s why new parents should set some grandparenting ground rules as soon as possible to avoid nasty arguments and frayed relationships down the road, according to bestselling author and parenting expert Esther Wojcicki.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
New member Kiirii also admits to frayed nerves while mentally preparing for the shoot.
—Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2025
In terms of wear, neither Baker or Alpert notice any shrinkage or frayed threads.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 22 Aug. 2025
Perform a visual inspection Look for cracked or frayed cables or other obvious signs of damage.
—Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
The roots frayed with nowhere to go.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
His trousers were too long, and the hems were frayed.
—Lisa K. Friedman, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
The international treaties and regimes that govern nuclear issues, particularly the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), are badly frayed.
—Mariano-Florentino CuÉllar, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
American health-care systems already frayed by a brutal pandemic are being dismantled further, and Americans’ antipathy for one another is having deadly effects on children and families.
—Rachel Pearson, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Its light wash and frayed raw hem look reminds me of the pair the lifestyle guru wore, and the ankle-skimming length is great for showing off a cute pair of sneakers, booties, or slip-on sandals.
—Averi Baudler, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
So going back and exploring how Ben and Raife’s partnership frayed also became a foundation for season one of Dark Wolf.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
And over the years being taken for granted, that relationship frayed.
—ABC News, 24 Aug. 2025
Our culture is frayed, our institutions are weak and civic virtue is hard to find.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frayed
Adjective
-
Wallen then stumbles to his feet in the middle of the road, as rain pours down, with close-up images showing Wallen in tattered clothes and covered in scrapes and cuts.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Inflation remains stubbornly high and the economic outlook subdued, frustrating efforts to repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Israeli public support for the war, which was overwhelming at the beginning, has significantly eroded.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The job market is particularly tough for recent graduates because hiring in white-collar industries including technology has slowed significantly and advances in artificial intelligence have eroded some of the entry-level jobs that used to be a springboard for them.—
Michael Sasso,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Blades with ragged edges can be a sign of insects chewing on the blades, and tunneling below the surface or turf that can be lifted like a rug can indicate larvae are feeding on the root system.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The architecture matches the vibe; there's bloodlust in the air and even among the ragged fans who camp along the road outside.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The evidence that Song was the shooter comes from a green mask the assailant wore from which samples that tested positive for Song’s DNA were taken and from interviews with cooperating sources, FBI Special Agent Clark Wiethorn testified at the hearing.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Fazit Beauty — made famous when Swift wore the company's glitter freckles to a Chiefs game — has $15 showgirl looks.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
One man, wearing a faded Scott Kingery shirt, admired the view from behind home plate on the club level.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
In 1975, Elvis was a faded star in Vegas and Robert Johnson was just another obscure dead bluesman.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frayed. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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