: 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
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025
Many will point to Nazareth, who entered the fray at the hour mark along with Andreia Jacinto and Lucia Alves, as the key to Portugal reducing England to a cardboard box in the rain, as well as the visitors’ own profligacy.
—Megan Feringa, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
Investor confidence in the Dallas-area company is fraying, Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith told clients in a note on Thursday.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fray
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Noun
Cena later handed that watch over to Scott, who entered the fray and started unwinding on Rhodes; wrestling fans on social media are debating whether Scott made actual (and accidental) contact with the bloodied Rhodes, who seemed to genuinely wince after Scott’s punches.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025
Many will point to Nazareth, who entered the fray at the hour mark along with Andreia Jacinto and Lucia Alves, as the key to Portugal reducing England to a cardboard box in the rain, as well as the visitors’ own profligacy.
—Megan Feringa, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
International agreements and alliances, already fraying as great-power competition heats up, will struggle to contain these fights.
—Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
Investor confidence in the Dallas-area company is fraying, Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith told clients in a note on Thursday.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 1 Mar. 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 13 Mar. 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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