Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Frazzle

//ˈfɹæz(ə)l// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A burnt fragment; a cinder or crisp. informal

    "The bacon was burned to a frazzle."

  2. 2
    a state of extreme exhaustion wordnet
  3. 3
    The condition or quality of being frazzled; a frayed end. informal

    "1886–90, John G. Nicolay and John Hay, Abraham Lincoln: A History Gordon had sent word to Lee that he had fought his corps to a frazzle"

  4. 4
    A messy situation or scene.

    "It ends with a splendid phone conversation between Robin and her mother. Robin (Laura Luz) is a frazzle of choreographed energy as her explanations are obviously leading to more trouble."

Verb
  1. 1
    To fray or wear down, especially at the edges. transitive

    "The new puppy has been chewing on everything, and my favorite afghan has become frazzled."

  2. 2
    exhaust physically or emotionally wordnet
  3. 3
    To drain emotionally or physically. transitive

    "After dealing with the children all day, I just can’t help feeling frazzled."

  4. 4
    wear away by rubbing wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

Originally an East Anglian word. Either from a variant of the now obsolete fazle (“to unravel”), altered due to influence from fray, or from a blend of fazle and fray. fazle comes from earlier fasel, which was inherited from Middle English facelyn (“[of the end of a rope, or of cloth] to unravel”). Middle English facelyn was a verbal derivative of the noun fasylle (“frayed edge”), which was in turn a derivative (with the diminutive suffix -el) of Old English fæs (“fringe, border”), from Proto-West Germanic *fas, from Proto-Germanic *fasōn. Related to German Faser (“fibre”).

Etymology 2

Originally an East Anglian word. Either from a variant of the now obsolete fazle (“to unravel”), altered due to influence from fray, or from a blend of fazle and fray. fazle comes from earlier fasel, which was inherited from Middle English facelyn (“[of the end of a rope, or of cloth] to unravel”). Middle English facelyn was a verbal derivative of the noun fasylle (“frayed edge”), which was in turn a derivative (with the diminutive suffix -el) of Old English fæs (“fringe, border”), from Proto-West Germanic *fas, from Proto-Germanic *fasōn. Related to German Faser (“fibre”).

See also for "frazzle"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: frazzle