adj
frayed
frayd
adj
1
Worn away or unravelled at the edge, especially of fabric or rope.
"He wore a pair of frayed old jeans."
"The frayed cable was a fire risk."
2
Strained, exhausted, or worn down by stress.
"By the end of the shift her nerves were completely frayed."
How to Use Frayed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWorn thin at the edges, or emotionally worn down by stress.
Common pairings
frayed edges
frayed nerves
frayed relationship
Word Forms
more frayed comparative, most frayed superlative
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Etymology
Past participle of fray, from Old French froiier, "to rub against," ultimately from Latin fricare, "to rub."