fray

¹

[frey]

noun

1. a fight, battle, or skirmish.

   Synonyms: war, strife, encounter, clash, contest, conflict, combat

2. a competition or contest, especially in sports.

   Synonyms: tourney, meet, match, tournament

3. a noisy quarrel or brawl.

   Synonyms: fracas, riot, squabble, spat, set-to, tiff, dispute, fight, altercation, melee, tussle

4. Archaic.,  fright.

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic.,  to frighten.

verb (used without object)

1. Archaic.,  to fight or brawl.

fray

²

[frey]

verb (used with object)

1. to wear (cloth, rope, etc.) to loose, raveled threads or fibers at the edge or end; cause to ravel out.

   Our old washing machine frayed all of our towels.

   Synonyms: wear out, tatter, ravel

2. to wear by rubbing (sometimes followed bythrough ).

3. to cause strain on (something); upset; discompose.

   All that arguing is fraying my nerves.

   Synonyms: chafe, stress, irritate

4. to rub.

verb (used without object)

1. to wear into loose, raveled threads or fibers, as cloth; ravel out.

   My sweater frayed at the elbows.

2. to become strained or stressed.

   Jealousy could be a sign that your relationship is fraying.

3. to rub against something.

   tall grass fraying against my knees.

noun

1. a raveled or worn part, as in cloth.

   frays at the toes of well-worn sneakers.

fray

¹

/ freɪ /

noun

1. a noisy quarrel

2. a fight or brawl

3. an archaic word for fright

verb

1. (tr) to frighten

fray

²

/ freɪ /

verb

1. to wear or cause to wear away into tatters or loose threads, esp at an edge or end

2. to make or become strained or irritated

3. to rub or chafe (another object) or (of two objects) to rub against one another

noun

1. a frayed place, as in cloth

Other Word Forms

• frayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fray¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English frai; shortening of affray

Origin of fray²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English fraien, from Old French frayer, freiier “to rub,” from Latin fricāre; friction

Word History and Origins

Origin of fray¹

C14: short for _affray

Origin of fray²

C14: from French frayer to rub, from Latin fricāre ; see _friction , _friable

Idioms and Phrases

see enter the lists (fray).

Example Sentences

“It’s created a version of virtual cancel culture, so a lot of people are scared to enter the fray,” he said in an interview.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

While those may not be the most pressing concerns for Roberts, he is eager to safeguard the institution’s integrity and keep it out of the political fray as much as possible.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

But New Delhi also has worked to repair relations with the U.S. that have frayed in recent months.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

On Tuesday, Philippe added his voice to a chorus of political leaders who say Macron needs to step back from the fray and leave office before his term ends in 2027.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The extended family that once surrounded her and anchored her world is fraying.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• erode 
• frazzle 
• unravel 
• wear away www.thesaurus.com