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 about the declining population of Los Angeles County, which lost 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the biggest numeric population drop in the nation during that period, by far. — Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

And the burnout risk is real, not generational hand-wringing. — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

The lack of hand-wringing from outside legacy media may indicate a bigger shift. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 June 2026

Would all the hand-wringing about the price be moot after experiencing one? — Sara Lacey, The Drive, 25 June 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