hand-wringing

noun

hand-wring·​ing ˈhand-ˌriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce hand-wringing (audio)
: an overwrought expression of concern or guilt
handwringer noun

Examples of hand-wringing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
No more hand-wringing and excuses by politicians who love to talk while people are terrorized. Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025 Somewhat lost in the hand-wringing over the CEO announcement, Target actually topped Wall Street expectations for sales and earnings during its fiscal second quarter. Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 The tariff ramp-up has prompted hand-wringing and contingency planning, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an audience with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 8 Aug. 2025 There were more defections, more hand-wringing calculations. Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025 But the weekend gathering wasn’t all hand-wringing and liquid refreshment. Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 4 June 2025 Huang’s unapologetic stance on AI is bracing in its way, especially in contrast with the public hand-wringing of many AI chieftains, fretting about the dangers of their LLMs while continuing to develop them. James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025 Ironically, the film is tracking rather nicely for a March release despite all the hand-wringing and hubbub, with Snow White likely debuting at $50 million to $56 million domestically, according to a leading tracking service. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025 There's obviously been a lot of hand-wringing over how Democrats treated the State of the Union address. ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hand-wringing was in 1839

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand-wringing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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