FRAY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for FRAY?

Need another word that means the same as “fray”? Find 34 synonyms and 30 related words for “fray” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Fray” are: chafe, fret, rub, scratch, frazzle, unravelling, unravelled, worn, well worn, unravel, wear, wear thin, wear out, wear away, wear through, become worn, become threadbare, become tattered, become ragged, go into holes, go through, taxed, overtaxed, tense, strain, tax, overtax, irritate, put on edge, make edgy, make tense, affray, disturbance, ruffle

Fray as a Noun

Definitions of "Fray" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “fray” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A noisy fight.

Synonyms of "Fray" as a noun (3 Words)

affray	An instance of group fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace. Lowe was charged with causing an affray.
disturbance	The interruption of a settled and peaceful condition. He looked around for the source of the disturbance.
ruffle	A vibrating drumbeat.

Fray as a Verb

Definitions of "Fray" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “fray” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• (of a male deer) rub (a bush or small tree) with the head in order to remove the velvet from newly formed antlers, or to mark territory during the rut.
• (of a fabric, rope, or cord) unravel or become worn at the edge, typically through constant rubbing.
• (of a person's nerves or temper) show the effects of strain.
• Wear away by rubbing.
• Cause friction.

Synonyms of "Fray" as a verb (31 Words)

become ragged	Come into existence.
become tattered	Enter or assume a certain state or condition.
become threadbare	Enhance the appearance of.
become worn	Enhance the appearance of.
chafe	Tear or wear off the skin or make sore by abrading. The bank chafed at the restrictions imposed upon it.
frazzle	Wear away by rubbing. Richard was frequently frazzled by the conflicting demands of work and home.
fret	Provide a musical instrument with frets. Don t fret over these small details.
go into holes	To be spent or finished.
go through	Go through in search of something search through someone s belongings in an unauthorized way.
irritate	Cause inflammation or other discomfort in (a part of the body. It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves.
make edgy	Assure the success of.
make tense	Engage in.
overtax	Require to pay too much tax. Do athletes overtax their hearts.
overtaxed	Tax excessively.
put on edge	Adapt.
rub	Make dry clean or smooth by rubbing. Many insects make noises by rubbing parts of their bodies together.
scratch	Play a record using the scratch technique. He scratched at a stain on his jacket.
strain	Separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements. His voice was so quiet that I had to strain to hear it.
tax	Impose a tax on someone or something. The income will be taxed at the top rate.
taxed	Make a charge against or accuse.
tense	Become stretched or tense or taut. He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room.
unravel	Become undone. Part of the crew neck had unravelled.
unravelled	Disentangle.
unravelling	Become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of.
wear	Have in one s aspect wear an expression of one s attitude or personality. What should I wear today.
wear away	Put clothing on one’s body.
wear out	Have in one’s aspect; wear an expression of one’s attitude or personality.
wear thin	Last and be usable.
wear through	Be dressed in.
well worn	Come up, as of a liquid.
worn	Be dressed in.

Usage Examples of "Fray" as a verb

• Cheap fabric soon frays.
• As the temperature rose, tempers frayed.
• The friction frayed the sleeve.
• Bucks mark their territory by fraying small trees.

Associations of "Fray" (30 Words)

adulthood	The state or condition of being fully grown or mature. Most of the larvae die although some survive to adulthood.
aged	Of wines fruit cheeses having reached a desired or final condition aged pronounced as one syllable. Aged men with white hair.
aging	The organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age.
antediluvian	Any of the early patriarchs who lived prior to the Noachian deluge. Antediluvian man.
chafe	Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations. The bank chafed at the restrictions imposed upon it.
crone	An ugly old woman.
dowdy	Primly out of date. A clean and sunny but completely dowdy room.
faded	Reduced in strength. The faded tones of an old recording.
flaccid	(of part of the body) soft and hanging loosely or limply, especially so as to look or feel unpleasant. She took his flaccid hand in hers.
geriatrics	The branch of medical science that deals with diseases and problems specific to old people.
grown	Fully developed. A grown woman.
lighten	Make or become more cheerful or less serious. After a glass of wine he lightened up a bit.
mangy	In poor condition; shabby. A mangy old fur coat.
mature	Fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used. He has matured and is ready to take on new responsibilities.
octogenarian	Someone whose age is in the eighties. The octogenarian is making his TV writing debut.
old	Very familiar used for emphasis old adj skilled through long experience. My old house was larger.
rub	Scrape or rub as if to relieve itching. The ice breaks into small floes that rub against each other.
ruffle	Pleat or gather into a ruffle. Ruffle the surface of the water.
scratch	A mark or wound made by scratching. A 631 metres handicap when the excellent stayer Too Fast will be off scratch.
senescence	The property characteristic of old age.
senescent	Growing old.
senile	(of a person) having or showing the weaknesses or diseases of old age, especially a loss of mental faculties. She couldn t cope with her senile husband.
shabby	Dressed in old or worn clothes. Shabby treatment.
stodgy	(used pejoratively) out of fashion; old fashioned. Some of the material is rather stodgy and top heavy with facts.
stuffy	(of a place) lacking fresh air or ventilation. He was steady and rather stuffy.
superannuated	Old; no longer valid or fashionable. Superannuated computing equipment.
tatty	Of poor quality. The generally tatty output of the current Celtic revival.
wizened	Lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness. A wizened little man with frizzy grey hair.
wrinkle	Make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface make a pressed folded or wrinkled line in. He sniffed and wrinkled his nose.
yore	Time long past.