fractious

adjective

Definition of fractiousnext
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.

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2
as in wild
difficult to manage or control Security guards were overwhelmed by the fractious crowd at the concert.

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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 Trump has had a fractious relationship for some time with Lula's administration, which has opposed him on numerous policies, particularly in the Western Hemisphere regarding Venezuela and Cuba. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 Known as a progressive voice on that often-fractious body, Chan is now looking to take her approach national in the rare opening for the congressional seat. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026 For farming communities historically dependent on the coca industry, the initiative marks a shift away from years of fractious relations with the state. — Angie Acosta M, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 Though the Marvel Comics co-creator is the film’s subject, his fractious relationship with a former road manager named Max Anderson is its focus. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fractious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fractious
  1. contentious
  2. wild
  3. controversial
  4. defiant
  5. rebellious
  6. restive
  7. willful
  8. uncontrollable
Adjective
  • Several cities across the nation are locked in a contentious debate over Flock cameras, but in Erlanger, that decision has been made.
    — Brooklyn Andres, Fox 19 Cincinnati, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The latest version of the polling place plan follows a contentious August meeting about a proposal to reduce the number of Election Day voting locations for the November midterm from 316 in 2022 to 176 in 2026.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • The surging Phillies moved into a tie for the first NL wild-card position entering Monday, though the Cubs hold the season series tiebreaker over Philadelphia.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • San Diego leads Arizona by a half-game in the race for the National League’s final wild-card spot.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • Decades later, buses helped desegregate schools, hauling Black and white children across the country’s racial divide, a controversial practice that has mostly ended.
    — Jeff McMurray, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Based on true events, Jacob Tremblay plays the 16-year-old Harvard prodigy who is subjected to controversial psychological experiments by Professor Henry Murray (Russell Crowe) and his eventual transformation into the Unabomber.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of controversial
Adjective
  • Captured after years on the run and sentenced to life in 2017, Mladic remained defiant and unrepentant, still revered by some Serbs as a nationalist hero.
    — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Bringing it on board with the White House’s latest effort to subdue an Iranian leadership stubbornly defiant after almost six months of war, however, is an extremely tall order.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of defiant
Adjective
  • Andrew Garfield is not just a rebellious peasant in his upcoming action period drama.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Green and Perry starred alongside one another on the hit Fox series, in which Green portrayed the aspiring musician David Silver while Perry starred as the rebellious Dylan McKay, for 10 years from 1990 to 2000.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • This restive edge showed up as a guiding principle on the Eagles’ full-length records, at least temporarily.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Even as details are ironed out, the law positions this NATO member to play a stabilizing role in a restive region.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of restive
Adjective
  • Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, citizenship may be revoked if it was illegally procured or obtained through the concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The emotional Moon moves through your 10th House of Career and squares the willful Sun in your 1st House of Identity.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of willful
Adjective
  • The gist is to live only in the present, not revel in previous success nor wallow in failure, and not to be concerned with what uncontrollable things could happen next.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Officers testified that Miller was resisting arrest and uncontrollable.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of uncontrollable

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Cite this Entry

“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fractious. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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