: 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)
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 Web
Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 27 May 2025
Perhaps most critical, there were varied accounts on whether one gunshot or multiple shots were fired during the fray.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 May 2025
The partnership of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has been central to White House operations since the administration took office in January, but with Musk now stepping away from the limelight, there are signs that the personal bond between the two has frayed.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fray
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Noun
Other regional actors have jumped into the fray, too, looking to ink investment deals with the new Syrian government that may or may or may not serve the country’s long term-interests.
—Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 27 May 2025
Perhaps most critical, there were varied accounts on whether one gunshot or multiple shots were fired during the fray.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025
Verb
He’s healed physically, but his mental health is frayed.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 May 2025
The partnership of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has been central to White House operations since the administration took office in January, but with Musk now stepping away from the limelight, there are signs that the personal bond between the two has frayed.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fray
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fray. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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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