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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of fray
Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2024
Once Johnson rolled out the text, Trump, Vance and their close allies joined the fray.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024
New Atlas, 23 Dec. 2024
But lately, relationships with some local leaders have frayed.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fray 
Noun
Amazon joined the fray on December 4 with its Nova family of multi-modal models, priced to compete with Google's Gemini 1.5 series.
—Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2024
Once Johnson rolled out the text, Trump, Vance and their close allies joined the fray.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
If the blade seems frayed, sharpen it with the diamond wheels.
—New Atlas, 23 Dec. 2024
But lately, relationships with some local leaders have frayed.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fray
Noun
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Osbourne didn't share much about her treatment, but this update comes on the heels of her recent battle with a high fever over the holidays.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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The battle over the report had been building since Mr. Trump was re-elected in November.Alan Feuer, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The ugly scene on a suburban street was a harbinger of skirmishes to come.Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
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Houston teammates then ran in to defend their teammate, as well, leading to a skirmish that spilled out of bounds while Lawrence remained on the turf, still on his back, as medical personnel tended to him.Andrew Greif, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
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At least four others were injured during the shooting rampage in the western town of Cetinje on Wednesday, which authorities say began after a bar brawl.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
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Coming out of the brutal men’s bathroom brawl, which left Thanos and four others dead, Team X did a quick recount to determine which side (truly) lost more votes.Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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For example, changes to underlying data can erode their effectiveness, like when hospitals switch lab providers.Darius Tahir | KFF Health News, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
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Over time, acids can erode tooth enamel permanently.Nancy LeBrun, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Interviewed two days later at the side of the Pacific Coast Highway, Edwards still bore the marks of the struggle.Will Carless, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
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The average cost for a child’s diapers is about $1,200 a year, and half the families in the U.S. struggle to afford them, according to the National Diaper Bank Network.Michael Cuglietta, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Israel’s populist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has largely avoided public clashes with the Israel Defense Force’s leadership, but politicians in his orbit have regularly attacked top officers as elites bent on subverting the will of the people.Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
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Venus and Jupiter’s clash facilitates temporary compromises.USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The agency recommended residents wear N95 or P100 masks if outside for long periods.Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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The Danish public broadcaster, DR, reported Friday that Trump's team encouraged homeless and socially disadvantaged people in Greenland to appear in a video wearing MAGA hats after being offered a free meal in a nice restaurant.THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 11 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Set in the pre-Independence, the biopic talks about Savarkar and his role in India’s fight against the British rule.Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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The Fed dialed back its fight against inflation over the final months of last year, lowering interest rates by a percentage point.Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near fray
Cite this Entry
“Fray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fray. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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