as in eroding
to damage or diminish by continued friction
constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fraying
Mental health struggles are on the rise, polarization is deepening and social safety nets are fraying.
—
Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Perspective, of course, is sometimes no match for the cold math of an underwhelming win streak or a locker room with fraying edges.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
The hems are finished with double stitching to prevent the edges from fraying or unraveling.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Anyone assigned to the rapidly fraying Ratliff family deserves a promotion, if not some hazard pay.
—Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraying
Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Perspective, of course, is sometimes no match for the cold math of an underwhelming win streak or a locker room with fraying edges.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
The hems are finished with double stitching to prevent the edges from fraying or unraveling.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Anyone assigned to the rapidly fraying Ratliff family deserves a promotion, if not some hazard pay.
—Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraying
Verb
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The Scatturice Network Expands While the economy provides the backdrop, multiple corruption cases continue eroding the Milei administration's credibility.—
Agustino Fontevecchia,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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As Robert Putnam documented in Bowling Alone, the churches, neighborhood associations, and bowling leagues that once anchored American communities have steadily lost members and influence, eroding civic life and our trust in one another.—
Todd Rogers,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The friends were both wearing some form of American flag on their outfits and were visiting from Syracuse, New York.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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The style is perfect for wearing into the cooler months, as it can easily be layered over cozy knits.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraying. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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