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
Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 22 June 2025
The blend of physical locations with sets and digital imagery is seamless and the CG work on the creatures is first-rate, notably so in the scary climactic stretch when the lumbering D. Rex joins the fray.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
semafor.com, 8 July 2025
The friendships begin to fray when a woman named Camille shows up, claiming Bruce had invited her.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fray
Noun
The Fed in the fray Trump’s efforts to push the Fed into managing the debt mark a significant break from more than 70 years of federal economic policy.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 22 June 2025
The blend of physical locations with sets and digital imagery is seamless and the CG work on the creatures is first-rate, notably so in the scary climactic stretch when the lumbering D. Rex joins the fray.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
Verb
In response to fraying ties with Washington, Brasília has sought closer relations with Beijing, a move that could hurt Lula’s popularity further: 75% of Brazilians distrust China, a recent poll showed.
—semafor.com, 8 July 2025
The friendships begin to fray when a woman named Camille shows up, claiming Bruce had invited her.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fray
Noun
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The injuries that eventually cut the third baseman’s career short began to take hold right before Forde lost a years-long battle with breast cancer.—
Abbey Mastracco,
Hartford Courant,
19 July 2025
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Coming weeks after Lexington and Concord, the battle marked the British effort to control the hills surrounding Boston’s harbor.—
Brian T. Allen,
National Review,
19 July 2025
Noun
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The skirmish left the mother of Jones' child with a black eye.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
18 July 2025
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The skirmish has thrust into the public eye a falling-out between two political heavyweights once seen as close allies.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
Noun
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Chelsea's 3-0 FIFA Club World Cup victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, with President Donald Trump in attendance, was marred by a postgame brawl.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
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In 2004, the two sides engaged in an ugly brawl with just under six minutes to play.—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Inflation is an inevitable economic reality that erodes your purchasing power over time.—
Prasanna Kumar,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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But the context in which the show is premiering makes this a surreal project, where legal rights and principles we were once told were sacrosanct are being eroded.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
Noun
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More struggles result in prosperity Another fight would also call for Jones' leadership in action.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
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In another, Paramount is reading the writing on the wall, as late-night and network television writ large struggle to keep up with streaming.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Which is why policy analysts are scratching their heads about what exactly lies behind the escalating border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 July 2025
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The Thai Health Ministry said 15 civilians and one soldier had been killed and 46 civilians and 15 soldiers wounded in the clashes since Thursday.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Verb
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John tried physical therapy and wearing a brace, but the spine kept worsening.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
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The dense forests near West Yellowstone, Montana, concealed the wreckage of a small plane until an unlikely beacon — a smartwatch worn by one of the victims — helped search-and-rescue crews locate the crash site, officials said Monday.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Noun
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The media is focused on the fight between moderates and progressives as the party seeks to recover from their 2024 shellacking.—
John Opdycke,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
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Shields won that fight by second-round TKO to become the WBC and WBF heavyweight champ.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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