as in eroding
to damage or diminish by continued friction
constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fraying
But already the controls are fraying.
—
MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
But his immediate contrition was not enough to spare him a red card at the next break in play, or to disguise the fact that nerves are fraying everywhere — not least in the coach’s office.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Ugg Duffield Throw Blanket II The blanket is made from a buttery-soft cotton blend and has a velvety finish with a trim border around the edges that improves durability and prevents fraying.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
In response to fraying ties with Washington, South Africa has turned to Beijing, with Chinese firms this week announcing hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in industries including mining and manufacturing in Africa’s biggest economy.
—semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraying
MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
But his immediate contrition was not enough to spare him a red card at the next break in play, or to disguise the fact that nerves are fraying everywhere — not least in the coach’s office.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Ugg Duffield Throw Blanket II The blanket is made from a buttery-soft cotton blend and has a velvety finish with a trim border around the edges that improves durability and prevents fraying.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
In response to fraying ties with Washington, South Africa has turned to Beijing, with Chinese firms this week announcing hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in industries including mining and manufacturing in Africa’s biggest economy.
—semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraying
Verb
-
Most recently, in 2022, the county had completed a more than $18 million project for beach nourishment, which is the process of adding sand to an eroding beach to widen it.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, a recent constitutional reform that gave Mexico’s ruling party control over all three branches of government has fed fears of rising state control over the economy, eroding confidence.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Some people even shared old photos of Indigenous peoples wearing the hoods, noting that the originators of the design kept the fur outward to break cold wind and trap snow.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Chavez posted a photo of Gregory Bovino walking down 33rd Street and Portland Avenue, flanked by three agents wearing masks.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraying. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share