hand-wringing

noun

hand-wring·​ing ˈhand-ˌriŋ-iŋ 

: an overwrought expression of concern or guilt

a lot of hand-wringing over the state of the economy

handwringer noun

Examples of hand-wringing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There has been a lot of hand-wringing lately about whether artists can still afford to live in New York. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Ocasio-Cortez’s choice to share her egg-freezing publicly has kicked off furious debate and confused hand-wringing among conservatives. — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026

New baby 3, fifth draft… In between, much hand-wringing, catastrophising, drinking of wine, learning of nursery rhymes. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

This has no relevance to anything, but Malcolm’s hand-wringing about the cat’s mental health is just so revealing there. — Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hand-wringing

• upbringing
• bringing
• clinging
• flinging
• hinging
• ringing
• singing
• slinging
• springing
• stinging
• stringing
• swinging