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
Alliances are tested and fractious rebels rarely see eye-to-eye.
—
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The Who have been an infamously fractious band for their entire career, with frequent arguments between members that have even on occasion led to fistfights.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
International Image In Syria, some Christian and Muslim residents in an ancient town are learning to coexist after a fractious 13-year civil war.
—German Lopez, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Its autocratic government brooks no dissent so decision-making should be easier than in fractious America and decisions should stick longer.
—Bob Davis, Time, 12 Apr. 2025
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Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The Who have been an infamously fractious band for their entire career, with frequent arguments between members that have even on occasion led to fistfights.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
International Image In Syria, some Christian and Muslim residents in an ancient town are learning to coexist after a fractious 13-year civil war.
—German Lopez, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Its autocratic government brooks no dissent so decision-making should be easier than in fractious America and decisions should stick longer.
—Bob Davis, Time, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fractious
Cite this Entry
“Fractious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fractious. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
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