as in discords
a lack of agreement or harmony
there was friction between the two sides of the family
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Recent Examples of frictions
Still, long-term questions persist, and Apple has warned that tariffs, trade restrictions and geopolitical frictions could raise costs, disrupt supply and force restructuring of operations.
—
Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
All these films directed by Arab women are about the unique schisms and frictions of the Arab world, and all of them allow Bakri to communicate the process of choice — a privilege that so many people, especially Palestinians, usually aren’t afforded but that Bakri’s characters insist upon.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
In more recent times, civil-military frictions have consisted almost entirely of civilian leaders pushing the military up to or over the bounds of traditional decorum or even the law.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
The implications of Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions are significant and extend well beyond bilateral frictions.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Inflation always rises alongside frictions in trade and supply chains, such as the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, the destruction of energy infrastructure, and so on.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
The story’s frictions and its premise could not be more evident, and the actors deliver the subtext with skill and a playful edge.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
North Korea’s often-wild rhetoric, combined with nuclear weapons development, adds further international frictions.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Last year, the country’s reliance on exports to other countries drove China’s trade surplus to a record high, bringing frictions with nations that accuse China of flooding markets.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
All these films directed by Arab women are about the unique schisms and frictions of the Arab world, and all of them allow Bakri to communicate the process of choice — a privilege that so many people, especially Palestinians, usually aren’t afforded but that Bakri’s characters insist upon.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
In more recent times, civil-military frictions have consisted almost entirely of civilian leaders pushing the military up to or over the bounds of traditional decorum or even the law.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
The implications of Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions are significant and extend well beyond bilateral frictions.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Inflation always rises alongside frictions in trade and supply chains, such as the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, the destruction of energy infrastructure, and so on.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
The story’s frictions and its premise could not be more evident, and the actors deliver the subtext with skill and a playful edge.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
North Korea’s often-wild rhetoric, combined with nuclear weapons development, adds further international frictions.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Last year, the country’s reliance on exports to other countries drove China’s trade surplus to a record high, bringing frictions with nations that accuse China of flooding markets.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frictions
Noun
-
Your dedicated Slack channels, private discords and endless Reddit threads.—
April Uchitel,
Flow Space,
6 Aug. 2025
-
In every case, physical science, which is based on the evidence reported by these limited and limiting senses, eventually leaves us stranded with the conviction that sickness, accidents, and disasters – discords of every description, regardless of the apparent cause – are real and inevitable.—
Lisa Rennie Sytsma,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
But in recent years, the glittering spectacle, meant to celebrate unity, has been overshadowed by global conflicts which have seeped onto the stage.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Escalating geopolitical conflicts have disrupted oil flows and contributed to a surge in gas prices in the past.—
David Schutz,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But over the past decade or so, major schisms have emerged.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The history of religion, with its thousands of schisms and reformations, is full of pilgrims who, rather than discard their relationship with their sacred text, have found purpose, clarity, and community through defiance.—
Séamas O'Reilly,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One source likened it to Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the beverages industry or McDonald’s and Burger King in the burger wars.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The current conflict is sometimes referred to as the Third Gulf War, but is distinctive from the earlier two wars in important respects, including so far relying on executive authority alone.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There were also divisions over the resolution among the 10 nonpermanent members, according to diplomats.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The studio in Paris will house all of Rodeo FX’s French divisions, including Film & Episodic, Advertising & Experiences, and Mikros Animation, and is based in Rue Dieu, a stone’s throw from the Canal Saint Martin in the capital’s 10th arrondissement.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Each lawsuit was a settlement, meaning the city did not lose a lawsuit but instead chose to pay the plaintiff to end litigation and resolve the disputes out of court.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Together with its licensing, rulemaking, and market oversight responsibilities, these enforcement tools help maintain standards within the brokerage industry and provide investors with mechanisms for addressing disputes.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The chair of the Fed has just one vote among a dozen on its rate-setting committee, but dissents against the chair are rare.—
Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
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During the 2024-25 term, Jackson was in the majority 72 percent of the time, the least of any justice, and wrote 10 dissents, the most of any, according to SCOTUSblog.—
Max Rego,
The Hill,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Videos from the scene showed clashes and even a man with a gun in one town.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In Dallas, clashes erupted between No Kings marchers and counter-protesters.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frictions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frictions. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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