frayed
Americanadjective
-
worn to loose, raveled threads or fibers at the outer surface, edge, or end.
I wouldn’t trust that frayed rope to hold anybody’s weight.
She hid her hands in the frayed sleeves of her bathrobe.
-
strained, taxed, or weakened by constant stress; frazzled.
We're going to have a lot of frayed relationships coming out of this crisis.
Candlelight and soft music can soothe frayed nerves after a rough day.
verb
Etymology
Origin of frayed
First recorded in 1810–20; fray 2 + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; fray 2 + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the dalliance frayed after widespread antigovernment protests in 2011 drew the Kremlin’s attention to the reach of blogs and social-media platforms that opposition leaders like Alexei Navalny used to rally supporters and expose corruption.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
Hopefully, FedEx’s report can help calm investors’ frayed nerves.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
The week immediately before the attacks, as diplomacy frayed, Iranian exports were back at their normal levels.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026
Our nerves are frayed, leaving little patience for nuance.
From Salon • Mar. 1, 2026
The paper was frayed and nearly falling apart because every night, without fail, Pili would read to her little brother.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
