as in discords
a lack of agreement or harmony
there was friction between the two sides of the family
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Recent Examples of frictions
Spoken words, brisk rhythms, and the pleasurable frictions of dissonance all remained frothy and intact.
—
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
The Kremlin is also exploiting frictions between the United States and Europe over the latter’s reservations about the Iran war.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
From there, the film unfolds through a series of episodes shaped by displacement, awkward encounters and the frictions of contemporary Germany.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Across this soppy set of songs, the sum of these frictions is cyborgish and spectral, music from a MacBook whose dying wish was to see the world.
—Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2026
Still, long-term questions persist, and Apple has warned that tariffs, trade restrictions and geopolitical frictions could raise costs, disrupt supply and force restructuring of operations.
—Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
In more recent times, civil-military frictions have consisted almost entirely of civilian leaders pushing the military up to or over the bounds of traditional decorum or even the law.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
The implications of Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions are significant and extend well beyond bilateral frictions.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Inflation always rises alongside frictions in trade and supply chains, such as the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, the destruction of energy infrastructure, and so on.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
The Kremlin is also exploiting frictions between the United States and Europe over the latter’s reservations about the Iran war.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
From there, the film unfolds through a series of episodes shaped by displacement, awkward encounters and the frictions of contemporary Germany.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Across this soppy set of songs, the sum of these frictions is cyborgish and spectral, music from a MacBook whose dying wish was to see the world.
—Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2026
Still, long-term questions persist, and Apple has warned that tariffs, trade restrictions and geopolitical frictions could raise costs, disrupt supply and force restructuring of operations.
—Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
In more recent times, civil-military frictions have consisted almost entirely of civilian leaders pushing the military up to or over the bounds of traditional decorum or even the law.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
The implications of Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions are significant and extend well beyond bilateral frictions.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Inflation always rises alongside frictions in trade and supply chains, such as the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, the destruction of energy infrastructure, and so on.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frictions
Noun
-
Your dedicated Slack channels, private discords and endless Reddit threads.—
April Uchitel,
Flow Space,
6 Aug. 2025
-
In every case, physical science, which is based on the evidence reported by these limited and limiting senses, eventually leaves us stranded with the conviction that sickness, accidents, and disasters – discords of every description, regardless of the apparent cause – are real and inevitable.—
Lisa Rennie Sytsma,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
Since one of the metaphorical aspects of the script concerns how swiftly conflicts can flare up from small disagreements into major knock-down-drag-out fights, showing the violence and bared-teeth snarling is appropriate, a lighter touch could work, too.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Determined to rise to the occasion and work out every possible kink, Daisy sets out to resolve conflicts between the stews and in the galley.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Given the schisms, some in the GOP believe only a single party-line bill may end up passing before November.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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But over the past decade or so, major schisms have emerged.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Now the edge is getting pushed yet again, as the culture transitions from the memeification of one man’s death to delighting in the real-time memes of wars.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Plenty of others haven’t engaged with the book at all, instead using its premise — and ironically, Hathaway’s role as a female producer on the film — as fodder for the ever-raging American culture wars.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Her campaign drew on the enduring support base associated with her father’s presidency, while also reviving deep divisions within Peruvian society.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 May 2026
-
The mayor’s veto eliminated a measure to reduce public hostility at a time of toxic divisions fraying the city.—
Andrew Cuomo,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Democrats see it as a frivolous investigation that lays the groundwork for disputes during the midterms and sows doubts about the integrity of the state’s electoral process.—
Caleb Groves,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
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The agreement also settles two other disputes that have bogged down the case with appeals.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Those officials — Fed presidents Beth Hammack of Cleveland, Lorie Logan of Dallas and Neel Kashkari of Minneapolis — said in statements detailing their dissents that the Fed is not being forthcoming about the growing chances of a rate hike.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
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However, the vote saw an unusually high four dissents, including three from officials who thought the committee should have removed language from its post-meeting statement that indicated the Fed’s next move would be a rate cut.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Not to worry, soccer aficionados — there’s an abundance of high-stakes clashes to tide you over until then.—
John Riker,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
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Be aware of your short fuse as Mars clashes with Jupiter.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frictions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frictions. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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