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   Frac·tious

   /ˈfrakSHəs/

   

   adjective

   • 1. (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome: "they fight and squabble like fractious children" Similar grumpygrouchycrotchetyin a (bad) moodcantankerousbad-temperedill-temperedill-naturedill-humoredpeevishhaving gotten up on the wrong side of the bedcrossdisagreeablepettishirritableirascibletetchytestycurmudgeonlycrabbedcrabbywaspishpricklypepperytouchyscratchycrustyspleneticshrewishshort-temperedhot-temperedquick-tempereddyspepticcholericbiliousliverishcross-grainedas cross as two sticksinformal:snappishsnappychippyon a short fuseshort-fusedshirtystroppynarkyrattyeggylike a bear with a sore headcrankyornerypeckishsoreheadedsnakyinformal, dated:waxymiffyOpposite contentedaffable
   • ▪ (of a group or organization) difficult to control; unruly: "the notoriously fractious resistance groups are declaring alliances to bolster their collective power" Similar waywardunrulyuncontrollableunmanageableout of handobstreperousdifficultheadstrongrefractoryrecalcitrantintractabledisobedientinsubordinatedisruptivedisorderlyundisciplinedtroublemakingrebelliousmutinousanarchicdefiantstubbornobstinatecontrarywillfularchaic:contumaciousOpposite dutiful

   Word Origin late 17th century: from fraction, probably on the pattern of the pair faction, factious.

   Derivatives

   • 1. fractiously adverb
   • 2. fractiousness noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

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