adj

frayed

frayd

Frayed (adj) means Worn away or unravelled at the edge, especially of fabric or rope. Example: “He wore a pair of frayed old jeans.”

adj

Worn away or unravelled at the edge, especially of fabric or rope.

"He wore a pair of frayed old jeans."

"The frayed cable was a fire risk."

Strained, exhausted, or worn down by stress.

"By the end of the shift her nerves were completely frayed."

How to use frayed

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWorn thin at the edges, or emotionally worn down by stress.

Common pairings

frayed edges frayed nerves frayed relationship

Word forms

more frayed comparative, most frayed superlative

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He wore a pair of _____ old jeans.

Etymology

Past participle of fray, from Old French froiier, "to rub against," ultimately from Latin fricare, "to rub."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for frayed

eyed dyed keyed Fayed swayed flayed annoyed delayed decayed strayed sprayed employed

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Frequently asked questions

What does “frayed” mean?

The word “frayed” means worn away or unravelled at the edge, especially of fabric or rope. In plain terms, worn thin at the edges, or emotionally worn down by stress.

How do you pronounce “frayed”?

“Frayed” is pronounced frayd (/fɹeɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “frayed” in a sentence?

Here is “frayed” used in a sentence: “He wore a pair of frayed old jeans.”

What part of speech is “frayed”?

“Frayed” is an adjective.

Where does the word “frayed” come from?

The word “frayed” comes from Latin. Past participle of fray, from Old French froiier, "to rub against," ultimately from Latin fricare, "to rub.".

How many meanings does “frayed” have?

“Frayed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: worn away or unravelled at the edge, especially of fabric or rope.