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

Also as is custom, adults will fret about the mostly mythical dangers children may face. — Muizz Akhtar, Vox, 30 Oct. 2026 Maybe Cowboy Space is striking while the iron is hot as the space industry frets over demand for launch outpacing supply. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026 Don't fret too much, though, Goldman Sachs’ Vickie Chang says. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026 Those without tickets — or fans desperate to relive the concert again and against — don’t have to fret. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fret

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret

Verb

The team noted that the peak in 2025 coincides with eroding trust in public health following the COVID pandemic, rising vaccine hesitancy and growing parental skepticism around newborn interventions.

— Reuters, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026
Since most American workers don’t stay in one place throughout the course of their career, these fees could significantly erode their retirement savings.

— Jeff Stevenson, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of erode

Verb

Her light brown hair is also parted down the middle and worn loose around her face.

— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 6 Nov. 2026
The top looks so similar to the sweater Rory wore in the show’s very first episode, and the pants have a wide fit and stretchy waistband that will accommodate second helpings of dinner.

— Natalie LaBarbera, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of wear

Verb

That forced Edmonds and former Horned Frog David Punch (now at Texas) to play lengthy minutes and have to worry about foul trouble.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Still, Nowinski is worried the Guardian Cap is giving parents and athletes a false sense of security that the game has been made considerably safer.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

His wife, Stacy Petit Bennett, told the outlet her husband called her in a panic as his truck became surrounded by floodwaters on San Filippo Drive.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
On Wednesday, a rush to open new accounts elsewhere crashed other banks’ mobile apps, fueling public panic.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of panic

Verb

Caraballeda’s tropical, beachfront climate could have been a factor, as well as possible impurities in the concrete used, which can eat away at the metal bars.

— Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026
The Anti-Defamation League, meanwhile, has urged residents to eat at the restaurants targeted by the demonstration, describing the campaign as an effort to intimidate Philadelphia’s Jewish community.

— Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of eat

Verb

The veil between this world and the next is thin and frayed throughout Specky Clark.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026
As the money piled up, the relationships between the company’s early team—including Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, Jakub Pachocki, Mira Murati, and Dario and Daniela Amodei—began to fray.

— Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of fray

Verb

The Senators’ most head-scratching trade of the summer, acquiring him for a 2027 sixth-round pick, has proved fruitless.

— Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026
State inspections also cited other pests (roaches and flies), as well as staff hygiene issues, including one employee seen scratching their nose then handling clean utensils.

— Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of scratch

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“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of fret

verb

noun

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