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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fret
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Nationally, moderate factions of the party have fretted over the calls — like those echoing from the Colorado Capitol’s stairs — to abolish ICE outright.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
China will be fretting over freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who fell short of gold at the Beijing Games four years ago.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
The outperformance is relatively new for investors who once fretted that Alphabet had been surpassed in technological prowess by startups like OpenAI, which would erode Google’s huge market share in internet search.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
As investors fret over volatility in the tech sector and the potential for an AI bubble to burst, Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, urged investors to look past the noise.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Nationally, moderate factions of the party have fretted over the calls — like those echoing from the Colorado Capitol’s stairs — to abolish ICE outright.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
China will be fretting over freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who fell short of gold at the Beijing Games four years ago.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
The outperformance is relatively new for investors who once fretted that Alphabet had been surpassed in technological prowess by startups like OpenAI, which would erode Google’s huge market share in internet search.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
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Still, critics say the controversy risks distracting from preparations for the Games and eroding public confidence in the organizing committee.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
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If someone close erodes your self-belief, that’s not a loving situation.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With only 12 weeks to pull together a wardrobe for the cast, and few of Jones’s old clothing in the archives, Rowe recreated some historical looks— such as the infamous red penguin-print pajama set (a version of the pajama top is worn by Jones on a school run in the new film).—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The Cowboy Carter artist shared yet another set of images on Instagram from the 2026 Super Bowl, this time wearing a long brown coat with a matching hat and blue jeans.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Anyone worried about corporate takeover was put at ease from day one.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
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The crowded field has some Democrats worried about the possibility of both Hilton and Bianco making it into the runoff, shutting out the party that has controlled the Governor’s Office since 2011 if Democrats split the vote.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And for Paramount, losing an expensive late-night comedian and irritating a few TV personalities may ultimately be the cost of doing business in a world where the biggest transactions could hinge on the feelings of a mercurial and demanding world leader.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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If something irritates you, the Aries moon encourages you to speak up.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
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Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic.—
Fabiola Sanchez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Breakfast is a busy affair, but those in signature suites can eat in the lounge (soon to be renovated but with a great view) or order room service.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
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He's traded soybeans for corn in an attempt to eat the cost.—
Adam Duxter,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 2024, Rhett Miller was on the road with his band, Old 97’s, when his voice started to fray, showing wear and tear at both the higher and lower ends of his range.—
Stuart Miller,
Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
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The old order is fraying not because Europe is weak or complacent or guilelessly reliant on diplomatic institutions, but because authoritarian powers are increasingly willing to work together to forcefully reshape the world order.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Samaniego scratched Tyler Samaniego was due to make his Red Sox debut Saturday, but was scratched due to back tightness.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
22 Feb. 2026
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In a season filled with head-scratching moments in late-game situations, the Rockets may have suffered their biggest collapse yet in a 108-106 defeat to the Knicks on Saturday.—
William Guillory,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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