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’s hand-wringing every year about the Oscars failing to attract younger viewers, but when a category that actually holds some interest to broader Gen Z viewers gets called, it’s treated as an afterthought? —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026

While many workers are hand-wringing over the fate of their careers, there are several CEOs who believe humans will be turbocharged rather than crushed by AI. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026

Depending on the viewer, the video elicited either admiration, outrage or existential hand-wringing. —Holly Willis, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026

There’s obviously a lot of hand-wringing around climbing losing its soul. —Outside, 23 Feb. 2026

The economic potential is real, but the hand-wringing is overblown. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2026

Despite all the hand-wringing about tampering, the NCAA rulebook classifies it as a Level II violation, not Level I, which usually results in minor penalties. —Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Beyond music, the creation of a lifelike AI actress named Tilly Norwood has sparked similarly existential hand-wringing across Hollywood. —Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

So much for all that hand-wringing. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025

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