fractious

adjective

frac·​tious ˈfrak-shəs How to pronounce fractious (audio)
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
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.
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 

Word History

Etymology

fract(ion) (in sense "rupture, discord, breach of the peace") + -ious (after captious, factious)

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fractious was in 1714

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Dictionary Entries Near fractious

Cite this Entry

“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fractious. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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