fray
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈfrā 
: 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. Hyltonfray
2 of 4verb (1)
frayed; fraying; frays
transitive verb
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
2
: strain, irritate
… a botched new bus system … which has frayed tempers. The Economist
The Economistintransitive verb
1
: to wear out or into shreds
2
: to show signs of strain
fraying nerves
fray
3 of 4noun (2)
: a raveled place or worn spot (as on fabric)
fray
4 of 4verb (2)
frayed; fraying; frays
transitive verb
archaic
: scare
also : to frighten away
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- battle
- fight
- scrabble
- struggle
- throes
Verb (1)
- abrade
- chafe
- corrade
- erode
- frazzle
- fret
- gall
- rasp
- rub
- wear
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English fraien, from Anglo-French freier, froier to rub, from Latin fricare — more at friction
Verb (2) and Noun (1)
Middle English fraien, short for affraien to affray
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (2)
1630, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing fray
Kids Definition
fray 1 of 2
noun
ˈfrā
: fight entry 2 sense 1, brawl
fray
2 of 2verb
frayed; fraying
: to wear into shreds
fray 1 of 2
noun
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- battle
- fight
- struggle
- effort
- throes
- attempt
- scrabble
- endeavor
- war
- try
- grind
- tussle
- trouble
- strife
- pains
- contest
- warfare
- toil
- work
- combat
- exertion
- conflict
- drudgery
- labor
- sweat
- travail
- essay
2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups a troubled youth always getting into frays at school Synonyms & Similar Words
- skirmish
- battle
- clash
- fight
- tussle
- struggle
- scuffle
- fracas
- contest
- brawl
- dustup
- conflict
- combat
- confrontation
- altercation
- duel
- scrimmage
- scrap
- scrum
- ruckus
- hassle
- tangle
- dispute
- spat
- melee
- quarrel
- squabble
- affray
- blows
- fisticuffs
- mêlée
- rough-and-tumble
- fistfight
- joust
- slugfest
- pitched battle
- battle royal
- donnybrook
- controversy
- row
- wrangle
- catfight
- ruction
- tiff
- punch-up
- contretemps
- free-for-all
- grapple
- broil
- argument
- face-off
- cross fire
- disagreement
- misunderstanding
- mix-up
- handgrips
- kickup
- punch-out
- argy-bargy
- falling-out
- argle-bargle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- truce
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- brawl
- clash
- fracas
- ruckus
- melee
- altercation
- affray
- mêlée
- skirmish
- tussle
- rough-and-tumble
- donnybrook
- battle
- scuffle
- row
- ruction
- free-for-all
- fisticuffs
- broil
- contest
- squabble
- argument
- combat
- struggle
- conflict
- dispute
- spat
- scrimmage
- roughhousing
- quarrel
- wrangle
- horseplay
- tiff
- scrap
- hassle
- handgrips
- kickup
fray
2 of 2verb
as in to erode
to damage or diminish by continued friction constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope Synonyms & Similar Words
- erode
- wear
- chafe
- rub
- abrade
- frazzle
- bite
- fret
- reduce
- corrade
- scrape
- gnaw
- disintegrate
- sharpen
- shave
- rasp
- gall
- chew
- erase
- graze
- file
- scour
- corrode
- grate
- scuff
- nibble
- eat
- dissolve
- wear out
- sandblast
- sandpaper
- decompose
- rub out
- grind
- wipe (away)
- hone
- break down
- whet
- break up
- cartilage glottis
- cartilage pit
- cartilages
- cartilagineous
- cartilaginificatia
- cartilaginifications
- cartilaginous
- cartilaginous fish
- cartilaginous ossification
- carting
- cartload
- cartloads
- cartman
- cartmen
- cartobibliography
- cartogram
- cartograms
- cartograph
- cartographer
- cartographers
- cartographic
- cartographic unit
- cartographical
- cartographically
- cartographies