Synonyms of frays

frays 1 of 2

noun

plural of fray

1

as in fights

a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective

another generation of scientists entered the fray to find a cure for AIDS

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fights
• struggles
• battles
• efforts
• throes
• works
• scrabbles
• pains
• attempts
• toils
• tries
• exertions
• troubles
• grinds
• endeavors
• sweats
• wars
• tussles
• conflicts
• combats
• strifes
• travails
• drudgeries
• labors
• contests
• warfares
• essays

2

as in clashes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

a troubled youth always getting into frays at school

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clashes
• skirmishes
• fights
• battles
• struggles
• tussles
• scuffles
• dustups
• conflicts
• brawls
• combats
• fracases
• altercations
• scraps
• contests
• confrontations
• scrimmages
• blows
• quarrels
• tangles
• duels
• disputes
• hassles
• broils
• scrums
• affrays
• squabbles
• wrangles
• fistfights
• melees
• pitched battles
• fisticuffs
• jousts
• spats
• disagreements
• ructions
• mix-ups
• ruckuses
• controversies
• donnybrooks
• slugfests
• grapples
• misunderstandings
• battles royal
• rows
• punch-outs
• punch-ups
• contretemps
• tiffs
• rough-and-tumbles
• fallings-out
• catfights
• free-for-alls
• arguments
• handgrips
• cross fires
• kickups
• face-offs
• argle-bargles
• argy-bargies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truces

3

as in brawls

a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people

school officials broke up the fray and gave all guilty parties detention

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brawls
• clashes
• broils
• altercations
• affrays
• skirmishes
• melees
• fracases
• ructions
• tussles
• rows
• scuffles
• ruckuses
• donnybrooks
• rough-and-tumbles
• disputes
• free-for-alls
• fisticuffs
• squabbles
• quarrels
• conflicts
• battles
• struggles
• wrangles
• combats
• scraps
• arguments
• scrimmages
• spats
• contests
• hassles
• tiffs
• handgrips
• horseplays
• kickups

frays

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fray

as in erodes

to damage or diminish by continued friction

constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope

Synonyms & Similar Words

• erodes
• wears
• rubs
• chafes
• abrades
• reduces
• scrapes
• erases
• frets
• sharpens
• gnaws
• bites
• shaves
• galls
• frazzles
• eats
• rasps
• corrades
• disintegrates
• corrodes
• grazes
• scuffs
• files
• scours
• decomposes
• chews
• grates
• dissolves
• wears out
• grinds
• nibbles
• sandpapers
• sandblasts
• whets
• wipes (away)
• hones
• rubs out
• breaks down
• breaks up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of frays

Noun

Philanthropy has always been judged less by intention than by outcome — and today, as public trust in institutions frays, that scrutiny has never been sharper. — James Chen, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026

Bernstein plays with that distance like a telephone cord wrapped around her fingers, and Eleni — played by the excellent newcomer Cemre Paksoy, powerfully helpless — only frays even more as the receiver is brought near the hook. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 9 July 2026

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon kill at least 16 people as a new ceasefire with Hezbollah frays. — Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026

When that web frays, ecosystems lose their ability to store carbon and produce food, water, and oxygen, while withstanding climate stress. — Tatjana Baleta, Time, 28 May 2026

Do not keep performing control while the process frays. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026

The social fabric of Paradise, meanwhile, frays as the bunker deals with the aftermath of season one and new secrets are uncovered about the city’s origins. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026

The departure of Matt Roy was hedged somewhat by the signing of Joel Edmundson two summers ago, but replacing Vladislav Gavrikov and Jordan Spence with Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci while Drew Doughty, 36 and in his 18th season, grays and frays has proven highly counterproductive. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 18 Apr. 2026

When cultural identity frays, advice subtly changes in tone. — Marc Cooper, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026

Verb

Conjuring the troubled inner life of a young, successful Buenos Aires fashion designer with an uncommon mix of stylistic rigor and feeling, the film frays your nerves. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026

The coalition of supporters frays Still another issue is conflict within the legalization movement itself, particularly between the business and activist wings. — William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026

This particular aspect of the show frays the gripping tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025