frazzled

[fraz-uh ld] /ˈfræz əld/
adjective, Informal.
1.
worn-out; fatigued:
a party that left us frazzled.
Origin
1870-75; frazzle + -ed2
Related forms
unfrazzled, adjective

frazzle

[fraz-uh l] /ˈfræz əl/
verb (used without object), verb (used with object), frazzled, frazzling.
1.
to wear to threads or shreds; fray.
2.
to weary; tire out:
Those six eight-year-olds frazzled me.
noun
3.
the state of being frazzled or worn-out.
4.
a remnant; shred.
Origin
1815-25; blend of fray2 and fazzle, Middle English faselin to unravel, cognate with German faseln
Examples from the web for frazzled
  • And whatever the cost in dollars, it always seems to remain exorbitant in bloodshot eyes and frazzled nerves.
  • Station wagons were big enough for everybody, with the possible exception of frazzled parents.
  • And you start to see why these parents are so frazzled.
  • The happier the server, the less frazzled the owner.
  • Then they quickly resume their decline as hopes dissipate, leaving investors puzzled and frazzled.
  • The committee members were frazzled from their end-of-semester duties.
  • All these incidents took place at a time of chaos, when communications were disrupted and officers were understandably frazzled.
  • Empathetic children can see how frazzled they're making their mothers and how much attention their siblings need.
  • It is not an anthropomorphism to say that everyone was mightily frazzled.
  • Needless to say, this often results in some pretty frazzled nerves.
British Dictionary definitions for frazzled

frazzle

/ˈfræzəl/
verb
1.
(informal) to make or become exhausted or weary; tire out
2.
a less common word for fray2 (sense 1)
noun
3.
(informal) the state of being frazzled or exhausted
4.
a frayed end or remnant
5.
(informal) to a frazzle, absolutely; completely (esp in the phrase burnt to a frazzle)
Word Origin
C19: probably from Middle English faselen to fray, from fasel fringe; influenced by fray²
Word Origin and History for frazzled

frazzle

v.

c.1825, "to unravel" (of clothing), from East Anglian variant of 17c. fasel "to unravel, fray" (as the end of a rope), from Middle English facelyn "to fray" (mid-15c.), from fasylle "fringe, frayed edge," diminutive of Old English fæs "fringe." Related: Frazzled, frazzling. Cf. German Faser "thread, fiber, filament," Middle Dutch vese "fringe, fiber, chaff." Probably influenced in form by fray (v.). As a noun, from 1865, American English.

Slang definitions & phrases for frazzled

frazzled

adjective
  1. (also on the frazz) Exhausted; tired in nerve and flesh; played out: He was frazzled after three weeks without a break (1872+)
  2. Drunk (1940s+)