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
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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
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
But don't fret — the fiberglass bovines were merely on a temporary hiatus from their essential post outside the custard shop, and nine of the 20 have since made their return, fresher than ever.
—Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Of course, in the short term, investors will fret, which is why any downturns are buying opportunities.
—Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Don’t fret over laundry day; this quilt is machine washable in warm water, dryer-friendly on low heat, and can be touched up with an iron if needed.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
Portraying the ghost of Hamlet’s father at the play’s debut, his face and body covered in chalky white paint, his Shakespeare steps through the looking glass and becomes his own tragic player, strutting and fretting his hour upon the stage.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
But don't fret — the fiberglass bovines were merely on a temporary hiatus from their essential post outside the custard shop, and nine of the 20 have since made their return, fresher than ever.
—Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Of course, in the short term, investors will fret, which is why any downturns are buying opportunities.
—Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Don’t fret over laundry day; this quilt is machine washable in warm water, dryer-friendly on low heat, and can be touched up with an iron if needed.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
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Chinese policymakers have intensified efforts aimed at reining in excessive price cuts that have eroded corporate profits while doing little to spur demand.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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Higher prices risk eroding consumers’ purchasing power, and for those living paycheck to paycheck this can be quite painful.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The photo released shows what appears to be a man wearing a largely black outfit with an American flag on his shirt, a black cap, and black sunglasses.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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Posing next to Colman Domingo and Salma Hayek Pinault (who wore an elegant black Balenciaga suit dress), Moore’s glitzy look shone.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wildfire worries With the worsening drought comes worries over wildfires.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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The airline's fall from grace should worry anyone with loyalty to the brand.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Generally, mineral sunscreens are beloved by dermatologists for not irritating sensitive skin, the way chemical sunscreens can.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Too many or poorly timed nudges irritate users.—
Prithvi Singh Shergill,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Widespread panic and pain People who were not directly exposed to the disaster but who were exposed to the news also experience distress, anxiety or symptoms of PTSD.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
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Naturally the thought of death came into one’s mind occasionally but one tried to be sensible about it, not getting into a panic, not pushing it away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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No doubt Nelson was in trouble, but referee Robert Boyle called an end to the fight as Nelson ate some hard combinations.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Making some art, eating some really good food, and then ending with a sunset at Blacks Beach.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What was once envisioned as a vital partnership of the 21st century is fraying—and becoming another source of uncertainty in a world order that seems to be unraveling.—
Vaibhav Vats,
The Atlantic,
10 Sep. 2025
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Ethiopia to inaugurate Africa’s largest dam, despite opposition Ethiopia will tomorrow inaugurate Africa’s largest dam, a major source of electricity and national pride for the country, but which threatens to fray ties with nations downstream.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That 133-page City audit barely scratched the surface of the overall dysfunction at the City’s animal shelter.—
Michael Wagner,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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But these figures only scratch the surface of Nepal’s deep economic problems, which include pervasive vulnerable employment – informal and insecure work that is prone to poor conditions and pay – and limited opportunities that constrain long-term productivity.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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