1
as in contentious
given to disagreement or irritation
At the end of what was a fractious campaign, the two former rivals were surprisingly able to settle some of their differences and work together.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in wild
difficult to manage or control
Security guards were overwhelmed by the fractious crowd at the concert.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fractious
Zelensky and Trump have had a fractious relationship at times.
—
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to scuttle the attempt, but his coalition emerged scathed and fractious.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
In a May 2022 op-ed in the New York Times, Felix laid down the gauntlet with Nike, exposing the fractious negotiations over an extension of her endorsement contract with the company.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 June 2025
Iran’s fractious social fabric Iran has a diverse population, including Persians, Azeris, Arabs, Baloch and Kurds.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to scuttle the attempt, but his coalition emerged scathed and fractious.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
In a May 2022 op-ed in the New York Times, Felix laid down the gauntlet with Nike, exposing the fractious negotiations over an extension of her endorsement contract with the company.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 June 2025
Iran’s fractious social fabric Iran has a diverse population, including Persians, Azeris, Arabs, Baloch and Kurds.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fractious
Adjective
-
One of the more contentious aspects of passing the bill was what to do with the cap on state and local tax deductions, or the SALT cap.—
Alicia Adamczyk,
Fortune,
4 July 2025
-
Hearing From The Other Side Like most important aspects of life, there are two sides to this contentious coin.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale accessory deals Some pretty wild things are going on over in the accessories department, where high-summer necessities like city bags and sleek sunglasses are up to 45% off.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
8 July 2025
-
Fortune Feimster partnered with Johnsonville, the popular sausage brand, for a wild Fourth of July bash at Summerfest in Milwaukee.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Delegates avoided any controversial subjects that might trigger Washington’s ire, analysts said.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
6 July 2025
-
The timing coincides with Iran's controversial suspension of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and reports of major internet disruptions across the country, suggesting ongoing tensions and potential preparations for future diplomatic or military developments.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
On Monday, asked about the poll proposal at an unrelated event, Adams was defiant.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
-
Trump's defiant response in Butler, Penn., may have fueled his big Election Day gains among male voters.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
From director James DeMonaco, creator of The Purge franchise, actor-comedian Davidson plays Max in The Home, a rebellious twenty-something sentenced to community service at a quiet retirement home.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
-
The story follows rebellious young demigod Ne Zha, who wrestles with his powers and the threat of humanity’s destruction.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Some of the richest Gulf Arab countries, such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, will worry that the destabilizing effects of a heavy-handed regime change could stir their own sizable and restive Shia Muslim populations.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
24 June 2025
-
The regime relies on repression—crackdowns, imprisonment, torture, executions—to maintain control of a stifled and restive population.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Court records show Rahman pleaded guilty Jan. 17 to two counts of willful retention and transmission of classified national defense information.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
-
Alsup ordered a trial in December to determine damages, which can reach up to $150,000 per case of willful copyright infringement.—
Lauren Harvey,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
In making arrests, the federal government allegedly went against both immigration laws and the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, the plaintiffs argue.—
Laura Rodríguez Presa,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
-
Medical device safety alert: issued in situations where a medical device may present an unreasonable risk of substantial harm.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share