as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
she wore a beloved but badly frayed flannel shirt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of frayed
Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
The star of The Devil Wears Prada 2 stepped out in New York City wearing a pair of light blue baggy jeans with frayed hems.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar named the key ministers for his new government who will help shoulder the task of repairing frayed European ties and relaunching a stagnant economy.
—Thomas Escritt, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
That means firm greens, a fast course and frayed nerves.
—Doug Ferguson, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
The works retain visible traces of labor—knots, frayed edges, layered threads—emphasizing the physical act of making.
—Olga Garcia-Mayoral, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
The present calamity is only exacerbated by the problems that already existed in their frayed union of over 20 years — including narcissistic tendencies for him and accountability issues for her.
—Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
After six months of backpacking, Martha was feeling very Taoist, very detached, just a big naked eyeball wandering around, absorbing all the astonishing things there were to see at the frayed edges of a defunct feudal empire.
—Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Together, these ingredients temporarily seal the cuticle, minimizing the look of frayed ends without leaving behind that dreaded crunchy feeling.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 12 May 2026
The writer is expected to bond with a new steward who had no part in the original creative conversation, who may have entirely different instincts about the material, and who inherits a relationship already frayed by the impersonal mechanics of a deal that took forever to close.
—George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Daniel still has these tracings today, rolled tightly and frayed at the edges.
—Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
People still were tired, tempers frayed.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 May 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, 29 Apr. 2026
The April state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla of Britain (more properly the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland) and the Commonwealth (formerly the British Empire) provides an opportunity to repair relations frayed mainly by the Iran War.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Hungarian premier-elect Peter Magyar’s incoming cabinet plans to cut taxes for low earners and held talks to repair ties with banks that frayed under Viktor Orban’s tumultuous 16 years in power.
—Andras Gergely, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
The coalition of supporters that made this strategy work has frayed, and new research is raising concerns about the health impact of regular cannabis use.
—William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Alcohol might be involved on one or both sides, and frayed nerves are pretty much guaranteed for the listener.
—Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
The star of The Devil Wears Prada 2 stepped out in New York City wearing a pair of light blue baggy jeans with frayed hems.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar named the key ministers for his new government who will help shoulder the task of repairing frayed European ties and relaunching a stagnant economy.
—Thomas Escritt, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
That means firm greens, a fast course and frayed nerves.
—Doug Ferguson, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
The works retain visible traces of labor—knots, frayed edges, layered threads—emphasizing the physical act of making.
—Olga Garcia-Mayoral, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
The present calamity is only exacerbated by the problems that already existed in their frayed union of over 20 years — including narcissistic tendencies for him and accountability issues for her.
—Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
After six months of backpacking, Martha was feeling very Taoist, very detached, just a big naked eyeball wandering around, absorbing all the astonishing things there were to see at the frayed edges of a defunct feudal empire.
—Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Together, these ingredients temporarily seal the cuticle, minimizing the look of frayed ends without leaving behind that dreaded crunchy feeling.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
Bessent's visit comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Tokyo have frayed, following Takaichi's comments in November that indicated Tokyo would support Taiwan if threatened by Beijing's military, drawing a sharp response from Beijing.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 12 May 2026
The writer is expected to bond with a new steward who had no part in the original creative conversation, who may have entirely different instincts about the material, and who inherits a relationship already frayed by the impersonal mechanics of a deal that took forever to close.
—George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Daniel still has these tracings today, rolled tightly and frayed at the edges.
—Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
People still were tired, tempers frayed.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 May 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, 29 Apr. 2026
The April state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla of Britain (more properly the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland) and the Commonwealth (formerly the British Empire) provides an opportunity to repair relations frayed mainly by the Iran War.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Hungarian premier-elect Peter Magyar’s incoming cabinet plans to cut taxes for low earners and held talks to repair ties with banks that frayed under Viktor Orban’s tumultuous 16 years in power.
—Andras Gergely, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
The coalition of supporters that made this strategy work has frayed, and new research is raising concerns about the health impact of regular cannabis use.
—William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frayed
Adjective
-
Trump then asks how Epstein, in tattered, bloody clothes and a chain around his neck, is enjoying heaven.—
William Vaillancourt,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2026
-
The sweater now has a deep V-neck with stylishly tattered edges, which Andy pairs with a button-down shirt and jeans.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The federal gas tax has also remained unchanged since 1993, which experts say has already eroded the Highway Trust Fund’s purchasing power when accounting for inflation.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Polanco-Galdamez said such laws have further eroded trust in healthcare systems among underserved families.—
Andrew Jones,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
In goes a scoop of lard, then eight corn tortillas, fanned out and briskly dressed with onions, salsas rojo and verde, and ragged strips of beef.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Few have gotten more out of three ragged chords than Diamond did in his first Top 10 single.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Bella wore a gold dress from Michael Kors's spring 2023 ready-to-wear collection.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
In early March, Paris Jackson wore black slouchy over-the-knee boots to Vivienne Westwood’s fall 2026 show in Paris after choosing tighter sock-boot shapes earlier that week.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Leaving the faded flowers on these plants will ensure seeds develop to nurture the next generation of blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
-
When deadheading, cut where the blossom's stem joins the rest of the plant—in other words, remove not only the faded flower, but the tiny stem attached to it as well.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frayed. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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