Words / C2

FRAKSH-uh-s/ˈfrækʃəs/

Fractious means easily annoyed and hard to control; quarrelsome: a fractious meeting, a fractious class. Irritable is everyday; quarrelsome is a close cousin; unruly stresses not obeying. Often of groups, children, or debates that start to splinter. In speech, tetchy and hard to manage is enough. Fractious is mood and manageability, not a principled dissent. Do not use it for a calm, organised protest.

Meaning

Easily annoyed and hard to control; quarrelsome.

Examples

• “The meeting grew fractious after lunch.”
• “The meeting grew fractious after lunch; two people talked over the chair.”
• “A fractious class on a wet Friday still needs a plan, not a sermon about gratitude.”

Good to know

Irritable and hard to manage. Everyday: tetchy / quarrelsome. Close: unruly (behaviour). Groups, children, debates. Contrast: principled, orderly disagreement.

Near in meaning

quarrelsome

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