# fraught

/ˈfɹɔt/ (US) · /fɹˈɔːt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fraught
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

full of problems, danger, or worry. You use this to describe a situation that feels tense or difficult.

For teachers: filled or teeming with something undesirable; causing or affected by great anxiety or stress. Often used predicatively with the preposition 'with'.

## Examples

- The long journey was fraught with danger.
- The atmosphere in the office became fraught as the deadline for the major merger approached.
- Navigating the legal complexities of international trade is often fraught with unforeseen bureaucratic hurdles that can delay shipments for months.

## Pitfalls

- Not "a fraught situation of risks" but "a situation fraught with risks" — When describing what a situation is full of, the adjective must be followed by 'with' rather than 'of'.

## Usage notes

- Typically follows a linking verb and is followed by the preposition 'with' when describing a situation full of risks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.