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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Recent Examples of fraying
Stitch around the edges with contrasting thread or finish with fabric glue to prevent fraying.
—
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fraying
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fraying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraying
Verb
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Rising living costs, inflation eroding purchasing power, and longer life spans have all made stepping away from the workforce more difficult than ever.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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Since 2019, cumulative inflation stands at 26%, eroding any real progress made through job-hopping or promotions.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mourners, many of whom were visibly upset and wearing Walmart uniforms, placed electric candles at the memorial.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
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Citations for not having headlights on during rain, fog or smoke and for not wearing a seatbelt were also dismissed.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraying. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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