FRET Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

fret 1 of 2

verb

ˈfret

Definition of fret

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

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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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 to irritate

to make sore by continued rubbing the stiff, starchy collar was fretting my neck, and I couldn't wait to change out of that costume

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fret

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fret

Verb

None of its marks seem to maintain their integrity for more than an inch or two without being fretted or spoiled. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Across the developed world, central bankers are fretting over the same issues. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 But if clouds ruin your view — or the moon is below the horizon at the time of the eclipse — there's no need to fret! — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Take-Two’s stock has slid as investors fret over the breach, but industry analysts and USC experts say even a playable leak is unlikely to dent the game franchise’s record-shattering sales. — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fret

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret

Verb

While lenders initially benefit from higher income, boosting investment returns, that advantage can be eroded if weaker companies struggle to service their debt.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026
Though liberal institutions survived formally, the social and economic settlement that sustained them had begun to erode.

— Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of erode

Verb

Carlton Wing wore a coat of live mayflies Thursday while fly fishing for bream on Midway Lake.

— Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
Her coaching staff has worn IM8 swag, though things can get confusing because her coach, Anton Dubrov, is now part of the Eight Sleep team.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of wear

Verb

But were the majority of Berlin’s citizens worried about what all this might mean in the long run?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
The news, which prompted Treasury yields to fall, came after days of headlines worrying about a global sell-off in government bonds.

— Matt Peterson,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of worry

Verb

Leftover detergent or fabric softener can irritate skin and cause itching or redness in some individuals.

— Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
Excessive or undiluted consumption of ACV, for example, can irritate your gastrointestinal tract, erode tooth enamel, and potentially interact with certain medications, said Walker.

— Sherri Gordon, HEALTH, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritate

Noun

The rattle of a bride’s gold earring or the rasp of straightener steam through a bride’s hair takes on a panic-inducingly eerie quality thanks to Marie-Clotilde Chery’s chilling sound design.

— Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026
Plenkovic has accused his political opponents of fueling panic for political gain.

— Darko Bandic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of panic

Verb

There are few breaks other than to sleep, eat, hydrate or get his bike fixed.

— Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
The people who were gathered at tables around her, eating buffet tacos and sipping cans of Coke Zero, were first- and second-generation Americans getting ready to run for office or to work on political campaigns.

— Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of eat

Verb

The relationship between the fans and the club’s hierarchy, including ownership at The Friedkin Group, has also been frayed due to the way the window ended.

— Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
The Bayeux Tapestry is centuries old, torn in thousands of places, and liable to fray at the lightest touch.

— John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of fray

Verb

Sunderland, of course, spent heavily last season after coming up from the Championship, and there is a broad consensus that promoted teams need to do so to quickly bring their squads up to scratch.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
The upstairs neighbors had two mastiffs who were left home all day and who barked incessantly and scratched at the floor of their kennel.

— Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of scratch

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of fret

verb

noun

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