adj
Uncommon
fraught
frawt
Fraught (adj) means Filled with something unpleasant, especially tension, danger, or difficulty. Example: “The negotiations were fraught with tension from the start.”
adj
1
Filled with something unpleasant, especially tension, danger, or difficulty.
"The negotiations were fraught with tension from the start."
"It was a fraught journey through the flooded roads."
2
Stressed, anxious, or emotionally strained.
"She sounded fraught on the phone after the long delay."
How to use fraught
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTense, difficult, or loaded with risk or stress.
Common mistake
Almost always used with "with" (fraught with danger) when naming what it's full of; used alone it just means tense or stressful.
Common pairings
fraught with danger
fraught relationship
fraught situation
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Word forms
- Plural
- fraughts
- Third person singular
- fraughts
- Past tense
- fraughted
- Comparative
- more fraught, fraughter
- Superlative
- most fraught, fraughtest
- Archaic forms
- fraughtest, fraughtedst, fraughteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The negotiations were _____ with tension from the start.
Etymology
From Middle English fraught, originally meaning a ship's cargo (related to "freight") — the sense shifted from a ship being "loaded" with goods to a situation being "loaded" with tension.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fraught
See all rhymes for fraught →Frequently asked questions
What does “fraught” mean?
The word “fraught” means filled with something unpleasant, especially tension, danger, or difficulty. In plain terms, tense, difficult, or loaded with risk or stress.
How do you pronounce “fraught”?
“Fraught” is pronounced frawt (/fɹɔːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “fraught” in a sentence?
Here is “fraught” used in a sentence: “The negotiations were fraught with tension from the start.”
What part of speech is “fraught”?
“Fraught” is an adjective.
Where does the word “fraught” come from?
The word “fraught” comes from Middle English. From Middle English fraught, originally meaning a ship's cargo (related to "freight") — the sense shifted from a ship being "loaded" with goods to a situation being "loaded" with tension.
Is “fraught” a common word?
“Fraught” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fraught” have?
“Fraught” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: filled with something unpleasant, especially tension, danger, or difficulty.
