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

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."

Stressed, anxious, or emotionally strained.

"She sounded fraught on the phone after the long delay."

How to use fraught

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

more fraught comparative, fraughter comparative, fraught past tense, fraughted past tense, fraughts plural, fraught plural, fraughted plural, fraughts singular, fraught singular, fraughted singular, fraughtest singular, fraughtedst singular, fraughteth singular, most fraught superlative, fraughtest superlative

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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.

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for fraught

aught caught naught draught onslaught distraught

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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.