Meaning & use
fraying
Last updated
Unraveling or wearing away at the edge, typically of fabric or rope, through rubbing or age.
See it in a sentence
The cuffs of his old jacket were fraying badly.
Years of tension left the friendship fraying at the edges.
A note on using this word
Often used figuratively to describe relationships, nerves, or agreements that are weakening or breaking down.
Words with a similar meaning
unravelingwearing thin
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
mending
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fraying”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.