frazzle

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: fraz=zle

CIDE DICTIONARY

frazzle, v. t. [Cf. G. faseln, and E. fray.].

 To fray; to wear or pull into tatters or tag ends; to tatter; -- used literally and figuratively.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
"Her hair was of a reddish gray color, and its frazzled and tangled condition suggested that the woman had recently passed through a period of extreme excitement."  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

frazzle, n. 

•  The act or result of frazzling; the condition or quality of being frazzled; the tag end; a frayed-out end.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

  "My fingers are all scratched to frazzles."  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  a state of extreme exhaustion; -- often used in the phrase worn to a frazzle.  [WordNet 1.5]

  "Gordon had sent word to Lee that he “had fought his corps to a frazzle.”"  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

frazzle, n. & v. colloq.
--n. a worn or exhausted state (burnt to a frazzle).
--v.tr. (usu. as frazzled adj.) wear out; exhaust.

Etymology

orig. uncert.

THESAURUS

frazzle

ablate, abrade, abrase, abrasion, agitate, bark, beat, blemish, bloody, bother, break, bugger, burn, burn out, chafe, check, chip, claw, concern, concussion, crack, crackle, craze, cut, debilitate, disquiet, distress, disturb, do in, do up, enervate, erase, erode, exhaust, fag, fag out, fatigue, file, flag, flash burn, fracture, fray, fret, gall, gash, give concern, gnaw, gnaw away, grate, graze, grind, harass, hurt, incise, incision, injure, injury, jade, knock out, knock up, lacerate, laceration, lesion, maim, make mincemeat of, maul, mortal wound, mutilate, mutilation, outwear, overfatigue, overstrain, overtire, overweary, pierce, poop, poop out, prostrate, puncture, rasp, raze, rend, rent, rip, rub away, rub off, rub out, run, rupture, savage, scald, scorch, scotch, scour, scrape, scratch, scrub, scuff, second-degree burn, skin, slash, slit, sore, sprain, stab, stab wound, stick, strain, tatter, tear, third-degree burn, tire, tire out, tire to death, trauma, traumatize, trouble, tucker, upset, use up, weaken, wear, wear away, wear down, wear off, wear on, wear out, wear ragged, weary, weather, wilt, wind, wound, wounds immedicable, wrench