How to Use frayed in a Sentence

frayed

adjective
  • That means firm greens, a fast course and frayed nerves.
    — Doug Ferguson, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Look for appliances with frayed or cracked cords and get rid of them.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
  • Look for appliances with frayed or cracked cords and get rid of them.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
  • These roomy jeans are designed with a high waist, zip-and-button fly, and frayed hems.
    — Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Old wiring, loose sockets, and frayed cords can be a safety hazard.
    — Heather Bien, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The two strings dangled below the frayed, cropped hem of her jacket.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 23 May 2026
  • Anything with frayed wires or out-of-date labels should be safely tossed.
    — Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2025
  • One of those pieces is the frayed taffeta flag top in her second collection.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
  • Kōnane cackles with the frayed voice of a centuries-old elder.
    — Matt Negrin, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Squealing can indicate a loose or frayed blower belt.
    — Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
  • If those same toys have become sunburnt, cracked, frayed, or unusable, pitch them.
    — Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2025
  • For all the dialogue’s sharpness, a few narrative strands are left too loose or frayed.
    — Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
  • From then on, relationships became frayed and strained.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 2 June 2026
  • Check your power strips for signs of damage, like heat, loose outlets, or frayed cords, to ensure safety.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2026
  • In terms of wear, neither Baker or Alpert notice any shrinkage or frayed threads.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Yeoh's frayed satin Dior shift included a leaf print and delicate draping.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The smooth glass finish helps prevent snagging and frayed edges, which means less breakage and longer-lasting polish.
    — Lily Wohlner, Allure, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The water was the color of steeped tea; cypress knees were draped with moss like frayed velvet; gators slipped silently beneath us.
    — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2025
  • Distressed, frayed and with a crochet patch, these jeans immediately scream style.
    — Lauren Finney Harden, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Look for bulbs that need tightening, frayed wires, missing insulation, and rust.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 June 2026
  • Back then, gaming gear meant a sticky controller with a frayed wire and a TV that hummed louder than the game itself.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
  • When my grandchildren were around recently, Marie was gritting her teeth because her nerves were so frayed.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 7 June 2026
  • Alcohol might be involved on one or both sides, and frayed nerves are pretty much guaranteed for the listener.
    — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
  • Lear would provide comment through this portrait of a neurotic, frayed woman and the people who surround her.
    — Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
  • Faulty wiring or frayed cords are a recipe for disaster, so be sure to thoroughly inspect your model to check for any broken elements.
    — Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
  • The ropes under my hands, touched lightly, lightly, felt somewhat frayed and old, and the ironwood slats under my feet seemed occasional.
    — Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The midi-length dress featured a slit on one side and a tattered, frayed detailing at the hem, which gave the dress a vintage and romantic appeal.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 17 Nov. 2025
  • New member Kiirii also admits to frayed nerves while mentally preparing for the shoot.
    — Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The dress is a strapless gown with a corseted bodice and a structured skirt, which is embellished with frayed floral and crystal embroidery throughout.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 17 Nov. 2025
  • Her pussybow button-down featured an optical illusion in the form of a double collar, as well as a frayed black ribbon at the neckline.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 5 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frayed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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