: 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
Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 15 Apr. 2024
The once-reliable safety net of company loyalty began to fray, leaving GenXers rightfully skeptical about their financial futures and less invested in the idea of company loyalty.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
Some fear fraying relationships may have a greater cost.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The bristles of the scrubber were durable, never fraying or bending during testing.
—Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
The stress of trying to make ends meet in these conditions is fraying the social fabric.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
Sewn rim tape material at the top of the envelope was frayed and several of its panels were damaged.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Sewn rim tape material at the top of the envelope was frayed and several panels were damaged.
—Sasha Hupka, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Keller was fine with staying home, but isolation further frayed Fox’s nerves.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 2 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 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
The once-reliable safety net of company loyalty began to fray, leaving GenXers rightfully skeptical about their financial futures and less invested in the idea of company loyalty.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
Some fear fraying relationships may have a greater cost.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The bristles of the scrubber were durable, never fraying or bending during testing.
—Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
The stress of trying to make ends meet in these conditions is fraying the social fabric.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
Sewn rim tape material at the top of the envelope was frayed and several of its panels were damaged.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Sewn rim tape material at the top of the envelope was frayed and several panels were damaged.
—Sasha Hupka, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Keller was fine with staying home, but isolation further frayed Fox’s nerves.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 2 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 19 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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