Fractious
/ˈfrækʃəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Fractious means being easily annoyed or angry and not willing to behave calmly. It often describes people, especially children or groups, who are hard to manage because they get upset or argue quickly. It can also describe situations that are tense or difficult.
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See It in Action
Easily upset or annoyed, difficult to control (often people or animals)
- •The fractious child refused to sit still during the lesson.
- •The fractious horse was hard to ride because it kept running away.
- •The fractious crowd grew louder as the argument went on.
Causing trouble or disagreement
- •The fractious meeting ended without any agreement.
- •Fractious relations between the two countries made peace talks difficult.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "fractious" like "grumpy" (A2 word), but stronger and more about causing trouble or fights, not just feeling unhappy
- ✓Picture a child who cries and shouts quickly when things don’t go their way, making others uncomfortable
- ✓It’s the feeling when a group of people start arguing because they cannot stay calm or agree
- ✓Sounds like "FRACK-shus" → imagine a crack (fracture) in calmness that breaks peace and causes tension
- ✓Think of a noisy classroom where children keep interrupting and not listening, making the teacher frustrated
- ✓NOT like "quiet" or "calm"—fractious means the opposite, full of tension and trouble
- ✓NOT like "angry" alone—fractious means angry and also hard to control or manage
- ✓NOT like "naughty" (just misbehaving)—fractious also includes being easily upset or difficult emotionally
Try Other Words
- •Irritable: easily annoyed or upset (Use when focusing on mood, less on causing trouble)
- •Unruly: hard to control or manage (Use when behavior is wild or disorderly)
- •Testy: easily annoyed and impatient (Use when short-tempered but less about causing fights)
- •Difficult: hard to deal with or manage (Use in general situations for people or things causing trouble)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "fract-" (from Latin "frangere" meaning to break) + suffix "-ious" (making adjective)
- •Etymology: From Latin "fractiosus," meaning prone to breaking or breaking out (like breaking peace or calm)
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe breaking or breaking out, later used for people who break rules or peace by being difficult
- •Modern usage: Describes people, animals, or situations that are hard to control because they get angry or cause trouble easily
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when a fractious person made a situation harder? How did you handle it?
•How is being fractious different from just being angry? Can someone be angry but not fractious?
Fill in the blanks
1.The fractious child became ___ when asked to share toys with others.
2.A fractious group often ___ arguments instead of peaceful talks.
3.Unlike calm students, fractious students find it hard to ___ in class.
4.The meeting was fractious because people kept ___ different opinions loudly.
5.Fractious behavior usually makes it ___ for teachers or leaders to keep control.
6.When animals are fractious, they may ___ suddenly and unpredictably.
7.The fractious mood in the room ___ the chance of finding a quick solution.