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
On a recent walk around Manhattan, for instance, Hadid paired blue jeans with a raw, fraying hem with classic loafers, a perfect combination of hippie and preppy.
—
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2026
His voting coalition is fraying, too.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Advertisement None of this will work, however, without civic courage inside countries where democracy is fraying.
—Philippe Bolopion, Time, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet, how could a film that takes such an intimate look at the fraying healthcare net through the story of a woman with a cognitive disability and her declining parents be otherwise?
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fraying
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2026
His voting coalition is fraying, too.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Advertisement None of this will work, however, without civic courage inside countries where democracy is fraying.
—Philippe Bolopion, Time, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet, how could a film that takes such an intimate look at the fraying healthcare net through the story of a woman with a cognitive disability and her declining parents be otherwise?
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fraying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraying
Verb
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State leaders seem to care more about the undocumented, DEI, Don’t Say Gay, redistricting, Hope Florida and school vouchers while our coastlines are eroding.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
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Judge Salas told us vilifying judges is eroding trust in the courts.—
Heather Abbott,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jeffrey’s wife, known as Shambles, operates the puppets from behind the curtain, while wearing their 5-year-old daughter, known as Crumbo, in a sling.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Communications student Loane Concy Clementia recently stood outside the Rabanne show at Paris Fashion Week, wearing a black bra, a white lace and satin skirt and a white fur bomber off the shoulder.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraying. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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