as in discords
a lack of agreement or harmony
there was friction between the two sides of the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 frictions
Tensions between Rian and Patrick flare when Rian drunkenly mentions a brief fling with Shiv, though the film’s clunky edit, which gives little room for the performances to breathe and play out organically within their contexts, makes these frictions feel stilted and juvenile.
—
Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 22 May 2026
Outcomes announced so far also spotlight where daylight and frictions continue to exist.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
These are not minor diplomatic frictions.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
These micro-frictions don’t disappear.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
By introducing features like an intuitive audio mixer, mandatory predictive navigation, and battery-bypassing stationary power, Google can address some of my biggest daily frictions.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 16 May 2026
Trade frictions, regional conflicts, and the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have revealed the fragility of global supply chains.
—Yu Jie, Time, 13 May 2026
These frictions are generally kept out of view, and the two perspectives cohabitate peacefully as orthodoxy in economics and public debates.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Spoken words, brisk rhythms, and the pleasurable frictions of dissonance all remained frothy and intact.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 22 May 2026
Outcomes announced so far also spotlight where daylight and frictions continue to exist.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
These are not minor diplomatic frictions.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
These micro-frictions don’t disappear.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
By introducing features like an intuitive audio mixer, mandatory predictive navigation, and battery-bypassing stationary power, Google can address some of my biggest daily frictions.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 16 May 2026
Trade frictions, regional conflicts, and the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have revealed the fragility of global supply chains.
—Yu Jie, Time, 13 May 2026
These frictions are generally kept out of view, and the two perspectives cohabitate peacefully as orthodoxy in economics and public debates.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Spoken words, brisk rhythms, and the pleasurable frictions of dissonance all remained frothy and intact.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 29 Apr. 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
-
The chain of islands has become critical to Japan’s defense in the event of armed conflicts between China and Taiwan.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
During a Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority meeting in March, that officer, Eric Osnes, said his team now studies footage of assaults on drivers to learn lessons that may mitigate future conflicts.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
As the country heads toward a national election, the leader once celebrated as a healer is now viewed by critics as the main driver of these schisms.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Madonna has made music through various calamities that at the time felt world-ending — wars, political unrest, financial collapse — so the terrors of 2026 don’t seem to faze her.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
The secret ingredient in sweets, sodas and cosmetics is entangled in one of the world’s deadliest and least-noticed wars.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Racial divisions around the case have propelled it to the national forefront, drawing the attention of both right-wing agitators and civil rights organizations.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
6 June 2026
-
As the current amnesty law was drafted, the country's deep sectarian divisions were clear in the legislature.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
His brief tenure was characterized by disputes with the president over North Korea, Iran and Ukraine.—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Community associations have found themselves in the spotlight recently with headlines about rising maintenance fees, contentious board decisions, and disputes between residents and leadership.—
Niurys Robaina,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
But the decision prompted dissents from three policymakers who objected to language in the post-meeting statement suggesting the Fed could eventually resume rate cuts.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
-
In dissents from Monday's order, Jackson pointed out the high court's ruling in the Callais case did not address the legal question of Section 2's enforceability by private individuals and groups.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Outside the facility’s gates, there have been clashes between federal immigration officials and demonstrators.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
Days of protests outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Newark, New Jersey, have led to clashes between demonstrators and officers and a handful of arrests.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frictions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frictions. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
