A fractious child is a troublesome thing to deal with, but a fractious man is far worse.

The U.S. Senate, in a rare bipartisan vote of approval in politically fractious Washington, adopted Tuesday a $1 trillion infrastructure plan to fix the country’s deteriorating roads and bridges and expand broadband internet service.

His speaking voice, a gruff husky tenor, added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed.

You're as fractious as Tom.

To him, in his present fractious mood, she dared whisper no observations, nor ask of him any information.