fractious
adjective
frac·tious
ˈfrak-shəs 
1
: tending to be troublesome : unruly
a fractious crowd
2
: quarrelsome, irritable
a fractious political campaign
fractiously
adverb
fractiousness
noun
Did you know?
The Latin verb frangere means "to break or shatter" and is related to a few common words, which is evident in their meanings. Dishes that are fragile break easily. A person whose health is easily broken might be described as frail. A fraction is one of the many pieces into which a whole can be broken. But fraction also once meant "disharmony" or "discord"—that is, a "rupture in relations." From this noun sense came the adjective fractious.
Examples of fractious in a Sentence
The fractious crowd grew violent.
Recent Examples on the Web
Monica owns Quartermaine Mansion, is former chief of staff of General Hospital, and is known for her enduring and often fractious relationship with ex-husband Alan (Stuart Damon).
—
Ew Staff, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
In the video, Henderson argues that these out-of-touch views are all around us, widening our class divide and fueling our fractious politics.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
One thing that remains the same, however, is the fractious nature of Trump’s coalition.
—Aaron Coy Moulton / Made By History, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
Further heavy defeats and fractious relationships with players — and with the club’s technical director Tim Steidten — contributed to Lopetegui’s underwhelming eight-month spell in east London.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fractious 
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Ew Staff, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
In the video, Henderson argues that these out-of-touch views are all around us, widening our class divide and fueling our fractious politics.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
One thing that remains the same, however, is the fractious nature of Trump’s coalition.
—Aaron Coy Moulton / Made By History, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
Further heavy defeats and fractious relationships with players — and with the club’s technical director Tim Steidten — contributed to Lopetegui’s underwhelming eight-month spell in east London.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fractious
Dictionary Entries Near fractious
Cite this Entry
“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fractious. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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