1
as in battle
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
another generation of scientists entered the fray to find a cure for AIDS
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2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a troubled youth always getting into frays at school
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
school officials broke up the fray and gave all guilty parties detention
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as in to erode
to damage or diminish by continued friction
constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fray
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
With the official free agency period beginning today, some more names are entering the fray, such as Cooper Kupp, who has reportedly been released after the team couldn't find a trade for the veteran receiver.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Kate Bartlett, NPR, 22 Mar. 2025
In the first season, focused on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, what started out as a beautiful union for the young couple, widely regarded as American royalty, began to fray under the stress of the relentless microscope and navel gaze of tabloid media.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fray
Noun
In Gurnee, the Illinois REALTORS Fund has thrown itself into the mayoral fray, sending out glossy oversized mailers supporting O’Brien, a semi-retired Realtor and founder of an online real estate company.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
With the official free agency period beginning today, some more names are entering the fray, such as Cooper Kupp, who has reportedly been released after the team couldn't find a trade for the veteran receiver.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
But that alliance is fraying at the seams after Kiir fired Machar loyalists as part of a Cabinet reshuffle this year.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 22 Mar. 2025
In the first season, focused on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, what started out as a beautiful union for the young couple, widely regarded as American royalty, began to fray under the stress of the relentless microscope and navel gaze of tabloid media.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fray
Noun
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Despite being a nonpartisan race, the Badger State contest served as a national proxy battle for Democratic officials and progressive groups, who are grasping at any glimmer of hope amid Trump 2.0's dominance in Washington that has expanded to other parts of the country and culture.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
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Kilmer's passing comes after years of public and private health struggles, most notably his long battle with throat cancer.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The clashes are a sign of growing tensions at the Lebanon-Syria border, northeast of the Beqaa valley, where predominantly Shiite Lebanese villages have seen skirmishes with Syrian soldiers in recent weeks.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2025
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After his skirmish with Diarra, Neal waved his arms to fire up Creighton fans in the sellout crowd.—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Officials didn’t provide information about what might have sparked the brawl.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Geopolitical tensions have leaked into competitive sports as of late, with brawls and anti-Donald Trump chants coloring U.S.-Canadian hockey games.—
Story Hinckley,
Christian Science Monitor,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Now, just as television’s role turned front-row briefing seats into prime real estate, evolving technology may erode the importance of giving those seats to television and newswire services.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Apr. 2025
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Chevron also challenged the costly wetlands restoration project proposed by the parish, which involved removing large amounts of contaminated soil and filling in the swaths fragmented wetlands eroded over the last century.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As much as anything tactical, Guardiola also has to pick the players that are in any kind of form and that has been the bigger challenge for a lot of this season, considering the struggles of De Bruyne, Gundogan, Foden, Bernardo, Kovacic, etc.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
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Her vehicle was found at her apartment, along with a bent car key, her high heels and signs of a struggle.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Since then, while tallies have fluctuated, the average has been around 180 clashes per day, an increase of about 30%.—
Andrew Carey and Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the public clash between Musk and Navarro as an example of the administration's transparency.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Jackson has worn that same number throughout his football career and has won two MVPs with it.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Two of the rescuers who get out of the vehicles are wearing uniforms.—
Abeer Salman,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the co-main event of the fight card, Brandon Grach and Liam Talivaa face off in a heavyweight rematch.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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During the Veterans Memorial Invitational Tournament in Egg Harbor Township, which is about eight miles outside Atlantic City, a fight broke out between players on the Maple Shade Cadet and Frenzy Cadet teams.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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