frayed

adj

1. Unravelled; worn at the end or edge.
2. (figuratively)Exhausted, strained, beleaguered, or suffering from stress.

   “Although relations between the two adversaries were frayed on occasion, Pyeongyang and Washington were able to negotiate and reach a compromise on the key issues that divided them.”

verb

1. (form-of, participle, past)simple past and past participle of fray