fraught

[frawt]

adjective

1. full of, accompanied by, or involving something specified, usually something unpleasant (often followed bywith ): her pain-fraught body; a gathering fraught with joyful sounds.

   a task fraught with danger;

   her pain-fraught body;

   emotionally fraught lyrics;

   a gathering fraught with joyful sounds.

2. characterized by or causing tension or stress: We are living in fraught times.

   He has always been overweight, so his relationship with food is fraught.

   We are living in fraught times.

3. Archaic.,  filled or laden.

   ships fraught with precious wares.

noun

1. Scot.,  a load; cargo; freight (of a ship).

fraught

/ frɔːt /

adjective

1. filled or charged; attended

   a venture fraught with peril

2. informal,  showing or producing tension or anxiety

   she looks rather fraught

   a fraught situation

3. archaic,  freighted

noun

1. an obsolete word for freight

Other Word Forms

• overfraught adjective
• unfraught adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraught¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German vracht “freight money, freight”; compare Old High German frēht “earnings,” Old English ǣht “possession”; freight

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraught¹

C14: from Middle Dutch vrachten , from vracht _freight

Example Sentences

Perth is one of the bounciest pitches in the world, meaning driving balls on a good length is fraught with the danger of an edge.

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The meeting is a fraught and delicate diplomatic process as countries jostle to protect their national interests, while also attempting to address the issue of climate change.

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Timeless but timely, pure and apt for this fraught and divisive time in history.

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The night before their departure was equally fraught.

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The decision comes at a politically fraught time for Bangladesh, which is preparing for elections in February for the next prime minister.

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Related Words

• charged 
• filled www.thesaurus.com
• replete