as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
she wore a beloved but badly frayed flannel shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in eroded
to damage or diminish by continued friction
constant rubbing against the rock face has badly frayed our climbing rope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of frayed
Heather Bien, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
And finally, follow the American Dental Association’s guidelines1 of when to replace toothbrushes, which is every three to four months for adults (or, if the bristles become frayed), and more often for children.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Sources at the time of the cancellation told Deadline that Jackson and Big Meech’s frayed relationship was not the reason BMF ended.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
In its destruction, the Chiefs will have to repair a frayed relationship with those who considered the stadium’s location in Missouri part of their identity.
—Sam McDowell 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025
The water was the color of steeped tea; cypress knees were draped with moss like frayed velvet; gators slipped silently beneath us.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2025
Goalscorer Rodrygo ran to the bench to hug Alonso, with the Brazilian winger joining Jude Bellingham after the game in insisting that the team is united behind their under-pressure boss, whose frayed relationship with Vinicius Junior has been widely publicized.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Rising ambitions, frayed relationships, and bruised egos fuel a decade-long all-out war between the Swiss art dealer and the elusive Russian oligarch.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2025
Squealing can indicate a loose or frayed blower belt.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
The pants feature slightly frayed, cuffed hems with an inseam that’s suitable for shorter frames, plus they’re made from stretchy denim for all-day comfort.
—Michelle Rostamian, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
That alignment has since frayed.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Their debate illustrated the way the right has frayed without Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed during a Turning Point event on the Utah Valley University campus in September.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 19 Dec. 2025
In pitch darkness, with 10-foot waves smashing the sides of both boats and only flashlights to guide them, nerves frayed.
—Carrie Kahn, NPR, 12 Dec. 2025
The Arizona case in particular comes at a time when, experts say, public confidence in scientific institutions has deeply frayed.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
The zipper even still glides as smoothly as the first day, and not a single thread has frayed.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2025
The first one will be connected to a larger community center so that even people who are not in-patient will be able to access health care, mental health care, career counseling, financial planning management and family therapy services to help rebuild relationships frayed by addiction.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Old wiring, loose sockets, and frayed cords can be a safety hazard.
—Verb
In the fallout, the close relationship between Perez and Albritton frayed.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for frayed
Adjective
-
Kick your tattered bath mat to the curb, and grab the Yimobra Memory Foam Bath Rug before the deal expires.—
-
The textured look included Roberto Cavalli tattered pants in a deep burgundy, worn with brown Miu Miu leggings underneath, a Dolce & Gabbana corset, and a Hermès by Jean Paul Gaultier shawl.—
Verb
-
But police-reform advocates say the momentum for change after Floyd’s death has stalled — and in some cases reversed — as transparency by law-enforcement agencies across the Bay Area and the nation has steadily eroded.—
-
Consumers have remained reluctant to spend amid an uncertain employment outlook and a prolonged property crisis that has eroded household wealth.—
Adjective
-
Her breath was becoming more ragged.—
-
The five pieces offer, in turn, biomorphic hints of de Kooning, the ragged shapes of Clyfford Still, the bold geometries of Ellsworth Kelly, the paint smears of Gerhard Richter, and something that looks like toothpaste squeezed onto an orange peel.—
Verb
-
For the Los Angeles premiere of Marty Supreme, the two wore custom Chrome Hearts looks.—
-
Emma Stone wore comfy, but sophisticated silk pants to a Louis Vuitton event in New York.—
Adjective
-
Characterized by their faded or worn-out effect, as if their original color had been lightened by washing, these beloved jeans stand out for their vintage and carefree air.—
-
The styling trick works even with an outfit that leans as grunge as this, with ballooning black cargo pants, a muted flannel, and a faded black tee.—
Cite this Entry
“Frayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frayed. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share