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   fractious

   /ˈfrakʃəs/

   adjective

   • 1. (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome: "they fight and squabble like fractious children" Similar grumpygrouchycrotchetyin a (bad) moodcantankerousbad-temperedill-temperedill-naturedill-humouredpeevishhaving got out of bed on the wrong sidecrossdisagreeablepettishirritableirascibletetchytestycurmudgeonlycrabbedcrabbywaspishpricklypepperytouchyscratchycrustyspleneticshrewishshort-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: "King Malcolm struggled to unite his fractious kingdom" Similar waywardunrulyuncontrollableunmanageableout of handobstreperousdifficultheadstrongrefractoryrecalcitrantintractabledisobedientinsubordinatedisruptivedisorderlyundisciplinedtroublemakingrebelliousmutinousanarchicdefiantstubbornobstinatecontrarywilfularchaic: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

   • F

     4

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • T

     1

   • I

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   • O

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   • S

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