fray
Edges coming apart
Fray has two distinct sources.
One means to unravel at the edges—threads come loose from fabric through wear or friction: The cuffs of his jacket were starting to fray.
Nerves and tempers also fray under stress.
The other fray is a fight or heated contest: She entered the fray, the competitive fray of election season.
Armed hostile engagement
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
fight · engagement · conflict · confrontation · melee · assault · attack · aggression
Tense apprehension
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- strainExcessive stretching force
- tempersEmotional states prone to anger
- patienceCalm during delays
anxiety · edginess · agitation · frazzle · overwhelm · pressure · distress · unease
Reasoned case or dispute
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
- rowLinear arrangement across
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
confrontation · discord · contention · feud · squabble · tiff · spat · clash
thread
Fiber for stitching
seam · fabric · textile · weave · strand · yarn · loose · tatter · ravel · sleeve
combat
Armed hostile engagement
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
clash · fight · engagement · conflict · confrontation · melee · assault · attack · aggression · belligerence
nerves
Tense apprehension
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- strainExcessive stretching force
- tempersEmotional states prone to anger
patience · anxiety · edginess · agitation · frazzle · overwhelm · pressure · distress · unease · apprehension
argument
Reasoned case or dispute
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
- rowLinear arrangement across
disagreement · confrontation · discord · contention · feud · squabble · tiff · spat · clash · dissent
threadbare
Worn until transparent
frazzled · shabby · distressed · weathered · deteriorated · eroded · abraded · chafed · rubbed · scuffed
contest
Organized competitive event
showdown · face-off · shootout · dogfight · scrimmage · free-for-all · joust · tournament · duel · challenge
- fightsfight, brawl, scuffle, scrap, tussle
- wear and tearerode, crumble, chafe, scuff, tatter
- fabric flawssnag, tear, hole, pilling, stain
- monjeshermano, prior, convento
- public disturbancesriot, disorderly conduct, brawl, disturbing the peace, breach of peace
- skirmishesskirmish, clash, encounter, brush, scuffle
- into the fray
- above the fray
- frayed edgesDeteriorating fabric perimeters
- frayed ends
- frayed wireDamaged electrical conductor
- frayed cordDamaged electrical line
fracas, frayed, defray, fraying, frays, affray, defraying, defrayed, defrays