fraught

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'fraught' is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective which means "feeling or showing very nervousness, worry, or tension". Example sentence: The days leading up to the exam were fraught with anticipation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There were times though, during the frenetic eight-day shoot, that "the incident with the horse" looked as if it might become the defining metaphor for an undertaking that was fraught going on chaotic.

The Guardian - Arts

Beckenbauer promptly took off his draftsman, Magath, and brought on the old battering ram, Hoeness, who in the past had rescued the Germans from such fraught situations.

The Guardian - Sport

From Salford to the Syrian border, the question of how to respond to multiculturalism remains fraught and divisive.

The Guardian - Opinion

Israeli analysts were torn over the impact the Fifa corruption scandal might have on an eventual vote, with some predicting that delegates might want to avoid further controversy in an already fraught congress.

The Guardian

Mayoral candidates from the major parties say the fraught contest, to be held on Thursday, is far from a foregone conclusion.

The Guardian

Since then, amid a flurry of media reports and opinion pieces by observers across the spectrum, the public correspondence between the two women has taken an increasingly fraught turn.

The Guardian - Music

It would be naive not to recognise that this great moral challenge is also a fraught political challenge.

The Guardian - Opinion

Australia's richest woman is seeking to determine whether the drama is defamatory in its portrayal of her fraught relationship with her late father, Lang Hancock, and his wife Rose, a former housemaid Rinehart employed to care for her father after her mother died.

The Guardian - Business

"You deceived us when you went to Obama and [House minority leader Nancy] Pelosi to get your votes for the cromnibus," Gohmert said in comments directed at Boehner over December's fraught passage of a spending bill.

The Guardian

Torino would continue to push for an equaliser thereafter, putting their opponents' increasingly fraught back-line under pressure but never creating a clear-cut chance.

The Guardian - Sport

Though the granting of planning permission may encourage a positive decision, the falling oil price and uncertainty over what may happen to wind energy subsidies after the general election make long-term investments in the sector more fraught.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fraught" to describe situations loaded with emotional distress, anxiety, or risk. This emphasizes the psychological impact of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "fraught" to describe merely inconvenient or mildly challenging situations. It is more appropriate for scenarios involving significant anxiety, tension, or risk.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fraught" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe situations or relationships that are filled with tension, anxiety, or risk, as demonstrated by the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

27%

Science

27%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fraught" is a versatile adjective used to describe situations or relationships filled with tension, anxiety, or risk. As per Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business and Science contexts. When writing, it's important to use "fraught" to underscore emotional distress or potential danger. Be cautious not to overuse it in place of milder terms like "difficult" or "challenging", according to writing guidance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tense

Focuses specifically on the presence of nervous anticipation or strained relations.

anxious

Emphasizes the feeling of worry and unease surrounding a situation.

stressful

Highlights the pressure and demands contributing to emotional strain.

difficult

Indicates a situation characterized by obstacles and challenges.

perilous

Stresses the presence of danger and risk in the situation.

precarious

Suggests instability and a high risk of negative outcomes.

risky

Directly points to the potential for harm or failure.

challenging

Focuses on the demanding nature of the situation and the need for effort.

troubled

Indicates a situation marked by problems and unrest.

complex

Highlights the intricate and multifaceted nature of a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "fraught" in a sentence?

You can use "fraught" to describe situations filled with tension or anxiety, such as "The negotiation was fraught with difficulties" or "Their relationship was fraught with misunderstandings".

What words can I use instead of "fraught"?

Alternatives to "fraught" include "tense", "anxious", "stressful", or "difficult", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say a person is "fraught"?

While less common, "fraught" can describe a person's state of mind, implying they are filled with anxiety or worry. For example, "She appeared fraught after the incident."

What is the difference between "fraught" and "difficult"?

"Difficult" describes a situation that requires effort and presents challenges, while "fraught" implies the situation is also filled with anxiety, tension, and potential negative consequences. A "fraught" situation is more emotionally charged than simply a "difficult" one.