1
as in crowded
possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified
every room in my childhood home is fraught with memories
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
had a fraught meeting with his estranged wife to discuss a divorce settlement
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Recent Examples of fraught
With how fraught the last few years of Bieber’s life and career have been, many were curious about what the sound and themes of his new album would be.
—
Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
The film captures the visceral anger, the fraught relationships with authority, the deeply personal interpretations of a global crisis that defined those years.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 July 2025
All of them could very well result in extensions being signed in the coming days and weeks, but on what terms remains a hugely interesting question:
Luka Dončić, Lakers
Welcome to the NBA’s most fraught contract-extension discussion.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 7 July 2025
The two women couldn’t be more different, but when a wealthy matron is found dead of an apparent suicide on the rocky shore of Vermont’s Lake Champlain, their fraught relationship gradually turns into a productive collaboration, despite Olivia’s missteps.
—Liza Tully, People.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraught
Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
The film captures the visceral anger, the fraught relationships with authority, the deeply personal interpretations of a global crisis that defined those years.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 July 2025
All of them could very well result in extensions being signed in the coming days and weeks, but on what terms remains a hugely interesting question:
Luka Dončić, Lakers
Welcome to the NBA’s most fraught contract-extension discussion.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 7 July 2025
The two women couldn’t be more different, but when a wealthy matron is found dead of an apparent suicide on the rocky shore of Vermont’s Lake Champlain, their fraught relationship gradually turns into a productive collaboration, despite Olivia’s missteps.
—Liza Tully, People.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraught
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraught
Adjective
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Also in central Gaza on Sunday, at least 12 people were killed and more than 40 injured when an Israeli airstrike targeted a crowded junction, according to Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex central Gaza City.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
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The downside of this route is that digital books can easily get lost in the shuffle of crowded devices.—
Vikrant Shaurya,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Pico’s other headsets are not sold in North America and ByteDance and the Trump administration have an uneasy relationship at best.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
15 July 2025
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The carpenters’ stance has created a split in the labor movement that makes lawmakers uneasy and sometimes spills into public view.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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Trump's trade deals with many countries—perhaps most notably China and the European Union—remain in tense negotiations, each one potentially affecting their manufacturing costs.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
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One client shared how a simple practice of pausing to name their emotion before responding in a tense board meeting helped de-escalate conflict and steer the conversation toward collaboration.—
Maureen Metcalf,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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The packed living rooms and TikTok-worthy, standing-room-only bar scenes where spectators gather to watch the show live look like sporting events.—
Cynthia Salinas Cappellano,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
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President Donald Trump wasn’t invited to the NAACP’s annual convention — but even in his absence, the effects of his presidency loomed over a packed ballroom in uptown Charlotte Sunday.—
Julia Coin
Updated July 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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This is a disturbing statistic and speaks to an increase in the total number of people defacing themselves, but also a rise in the amount of ink per person.—
Scott Liftman,
Boston Herald,
25 July 2025
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The board of the Regional Transportation Authority met Friday to discuss ways to respond to the cut, striking a note of optimism to counter the disturbing prediction for Tri-Rail’s future.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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And in places where wasting is widespread, other painful side effects are occurring: conflict is intensifying; poverty is deepening; public health systems are buckling under pressure; domestic violence is rife.—
David Miliband,
Time,
21 July 2025
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Between chin-length bobs, baroque style accents and soft glam, mod hair and makeup trends were rife on Wednesday night at the 2025 Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards in Los Angeles, where athletes, A-listers and artists alike gathered to honor this year’s recipients.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
17 July 2025
Adjective
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Saturated reds and yellows can be too energizing, adding an unsettling air to your dinner party and subconsciously encouraging guests to get up and leave.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 July 2025
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Recent research reveals an unsettling reality: Despite widespread awareness of the risks, teens and phone use while driving remains a persistent and deadly problem.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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With Iran and its proxies diminished and Gulf states anxious to diversify their economies, any prospect for broader peace and normalization runs through Riyadh.—
Edward Felsenthal,
Time,
23 July 2025
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This is their first major sit-down interview together, and both are a bit anxious.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fraught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraught. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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