1
as in to erode
to consume or wear away gradually
over the span of thousands of years, the annual spring runoff fretted the rock, forming a deep channel
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction
don't let the girth fret the horse's belly or you won't be able to ride him
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety
don't fret over whether it will be sunny tomorrow, as there's nothing we can do about it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in panic
a state of nervous or irritated concern
one of my customers always gets into a fret if I'm so much as 15 minutes late delivering his newspaper
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fret
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 May 2025
As the two teams look toward Game 4, Celtics fans are fretting over what appears to be a serious injury suffered by their star player, Jayson Tatum.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 14 May 2025
To a certain extent, such negativity may simply reflect an innate human tendency to fret about decline.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Sofia Grainge Baby Boys’ Short-Sleeve Romper 2-Pack Don’t fret — Richie Grainge’s new collection also has fly styles for boys.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
Much like their creator, his characters fret over details and seek to predict and manage their world.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 May 2025
As the two teams look toward Game 4, Celtics fans are fretting over what appears to be a serious injury suffered by their star player, Jayson Tatum.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 14 May 2025
To a certain extent, such negativity may simply reflect an innate human tendency to fret about decline.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Sofia Grainge Baby Boys’ Short-Sleeve Romper 2-Pack Don’t fret — Richie Grainge’s new collection also has fly styles for boys.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
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The persistent issue of greenwashing, where investments are promoted as sustainable without verifiable environmental benefits, has eroded trust and slowed market development.—
Edoardo Francesco Sabatino,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Maryland’s coastlines are eroding at an alarming rate.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
5 June 2025
Verb
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One Amazon reviewer wore them during a trip to Italy and said their feet felt great after being on them all day in the heat.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
4 June 2025
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Morgan wore an all black outfit, while his wife adorned a black dress with floral designs.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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These trends are causing 67% of the workforce to worry about the economy’s impact on their current jobs, according to the Workforce Pulse Survey from Remote.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
-
Market volatility has enraged Democrats and worried many Republicans as the country experiences whiplash from tariff announcements, leaving many people worried about their finances.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump initially tapped to co-lead DOGE, pushed for an expansion of the program as way to attract global talent, irritating immigration hawks in the conservative movement.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
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Use Insect Repellent to Avoid Bug Bites Stinging, biting, and otherwise irritating bugs are prevalent in summer.—
Sarah Richards,
Verywell Health,
3 June 2025
Noun
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Advocacy organizations that defend immigrant rights such as the Rural & Migrant Ministry and the Finger Lakes Rapid Response Network have held workshops to teach immigrants about their legal rights and to discourage them from spreading panic with unverified reports.—
Ana Ley,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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Remove some anxiety by preparing a hurricane kit of essentials now so you aren’t huddled in a soul-crushing line of fellow panic buyers at the supermarkets when the next storm watch and warning arrives.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2025
Verb
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This spot for soccer fans offers lots of pub fare to eat and drink.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2025
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The calls came while eating lunch, while lying in bed at night.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Trump’s incendiary move has set a city whose nerves have been frayed all year further on edge, fearing there’s worse to come from him.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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The piece featured another asymmetric detail that was layered on top of a gauzy cotton organza with a crew neckline, frayed hem detailing and concealed side zipper closure.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
4 June 2025
Verb
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First-timers typically make a beeline for Madrid and Barcelona, but even then, most people will only scratch the surface of these cities and their surroundings.—
Siobhan Reid,
Vogue,
28 May 2025
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But the car industry has not scratched the surface of these vehicles' potential.—
Emily Forlini,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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