: a usually disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute
Fighting there could easily draw neighboring nations into the fray.—
Blaine Harden
Blaine Harden… the patrician statesman who stood above the fray.—Richard D. Hylton
Richard D. Hylton
frayed; fraying; frays
1
a
: to wear (something, such as an edge of cloth) by or as if by rubbing : fret
b
: to separate the threads at the edge of
: a raveled place or worn spot (as on fabric)
Synonyms
Examples of fray in a Sentence
Noun (1)
another generation of scientists entered the fray to find a cure for AIDS
a troubled youth always getting into frays at school
school officials broke up the fray and gave all guilty parties detention
Verb (1)
constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
Recent Examples on the WebDavid Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
That’s the tantalizing prospect being touted by former L.A. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who this morning announced his entry into the TikTok fray.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 15 May 2024
Freddie Fox joins the fray as Gwayne Hightower, Alicent's brother who's been stationed at Oldtown, the ancestral seat of their house.
—EW.com, 14 May 2024
Streamers have joined the fray, doing exactly what the Big 4 networks have done for decades: touting their wares to the advertising buyers who spend billions of dollars in TV spots every year.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 14 May 2024
Now, there are signs that the two technology giants are wading deeper into the fray.
—Will Henshall, TIME, 13 May 2024
Keep in Mind The blanket had minor frays after washing.
—Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 13 May 2024
At the bottom of the escalator, Jones continues to pound the man, when suddenly another man jumps into the fray.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 May 2024
The steep cost of taking on the oil industry has kept some states from joining the fray.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Erika Reals, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024
What to Consider The straps tend to fray with heavy use.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2024
But that steadfastness has shown signs of fraying, as a new generation has shrugged off a distaste for hardline nationalist politics, and as memories of the party’s more rabidly racist statements begin to fade.
—TIME, 15 May 2024
Why did aid funding continue even as the relationship between the two countries frayed?
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
President Biden, far more than other world leaders, has maintained steadfast support for Israel, but there are signs that even that is beginning to fray.
—Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 9 May 2024
Unlike Google, Facebook, TikTok or Twitter, Apple could not be accused of algorithmically nurturing addiction, fraying the social fabric, spreading hate or undermining democracy.
—Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 May 2024
Shireen, fraying relationships is a universal theme.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 6 May 2024
The charging network today is plagued by buggy software, frayed cables, confusing payment systems, and is often prone to extreme cold or heat.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 15 Apr. 2024
Noun
But his method is mostly charging into the fray, shouting battle cries or tossing out Australian drollery.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
That’s the tantalizing prospect being touted by former L.A. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who this morning announced his entry into the TikTok fray.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 15 May 2024
Freddie Fox joins the fray as Gwayne Hightower, Alicent's brother who's been stationed at Oldtown, the ancestral seat of their house.
—EW.com, 14 May 2024
Streamers have joined the fray, doing exactly what the Big 4 networks have done for decades: touting their wares to the advertising buyers who spend billions of dollars in TV spots every year.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 14 May 2024
Now, there are signs that the two technology giants are wading deeper into the fray.
—Will Henshall, TIME, 13 May 2024
Keep in Mind The blanket had minor frays after washing.
—Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 13 May 2024
At the bottom of the escalator, Jones continues to pound the man, when suddenly another man jumps into the fray.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 May 2024
The steep cost of taking on the oil industry has kept some states from joining the fray.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
The jeans look as good as new after being washed, with no strings or fraying at the edges.
—Erika Reals, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024
What to Consider The straps tend to fray with heavy use.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2024
But that steadfastness has shown signs of fraying, as a new generation has shrugged off a distaste for hardline nationalist politics, and as memories of the party’s more rabidly racist statements begin to fade.
—TIME, 15 May 2024
Why did aid funding continue even as the relationship between the two countries frayed?
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
President Biden, far more than other world leaders, has maintained steadfast support for Israel, but there are signs that even that is beginning to fray.
—Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 9 May 2024
Unlike Google, Facebook, TikTok or Twitter, Apple could not be accused of algorithmically nurturing addiction, fraying the social fabric, spreading hate or undermining democracy.
—Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 May 2024
Shireen, fraying relationships is a universal theme.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 6 May 2024
The charging network today is plagued by buggy software, frayed cables, confusing payment systems, and is often prone to extreme cold or heat.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 15 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fray
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fray. Accessed 20 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fray
1 of 2 noun
: an usually disorderly or long fight, struggle, or dispute
fray
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to wear (as an edge of cloth) by or as if by rubbing
b
: to separate the threads at the edge of
cutoff jeans with frayed edges
2
: to show or cause to show signs of strain
nerves were beginning to fray
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