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
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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
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
Kate Payne, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2025
For gold is neither exposed to counterparty risk nor to international sanctions some central banks (e.g. Russia) ought to fret over.
—Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
One key reason was that the conflict seems to have been resolved relatively quickly, leaving less time for traders to fret about future attacks.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 24 June 2025
The stablecoin bill also comes at a time when Wall Street has started to fret about foreign investors and governments turning away from U.S. assets.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
But lawmakers have taken steps to shore up reserves, as forecasters warn of a busier than usual hurricane season and as economists fret over Trump’s trade wars and a sweeping proposal to cut federal taxes and spending.
—Kate Payne, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2025
For gold is neither exposed to counterparty risk nor to international sanctions some central banks (e.g. Russia) ought to fret over.
—Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
One key reason was that the conflict seems to have been resolved relatively quickly, leaving less time for traders to fret about future attacks.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 24 June 2025
The stablecoin bill also comes at a time when Wall Street has started to fret about foreign investors and governments turning away from U.S. assets.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
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Chatterjee notes that this is a brand with strong retention but declining acquisition potential due to eroding external perception.—
Jeff Fromm,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Many of his directives this term have closely mirrored Project 2025, a conservative policy agenda that explicitly prioritizes eroding LGBTQ rights.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
28 June 2025
Verb
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He was last seen wearing blue headphones, a blue surgical mask, a black North Face jacket, light-wash camo pants and gray sneakers.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
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There are a few family members who only wear olive, mustard, khaki, black and other dull colors; clunky, unattractive shoes; and few accessories.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Other critics worried the plan lacked sufficient safeguards preventing private developers from snapping up prime land for mansions or private resorts, worsening existing housing problems.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
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In Boca Raton, the government campus project has drawn concern, with some residents worrying about the relocation of the current sports facilities there, encroaching on the nearby neighborhoods and actually adding traffic to the city despite one of the goals being to reduce it.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Jake Paul’s everyday unscented face wash avoids irritating fragrances but is infused with vitamin B3 to help keep your skin hydrated.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
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Work exposures: If you are frequently exposed to irritating chemicals or substances, your risk of dermatitis is higher.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
29 June 2025
Noun
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Although the frustration of supporters is shared internally, there is no sense of panic — which is unlikely to pacify fans understandably impatient for additions following three successive windows without a first-XI signing.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
3 July 2025
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That panic is causing bare shelves in grocery stores such as Publix, where media relations manager Nicole Maristany Krauss said the store is working with suppliers to stock shelves while providing value.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
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The successful hatchings come about a year after Scout ate two of his chicks as a first-time dad, leaving the pair with no surviving eaglets from their first nesting season, McClatchy News previously reported.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
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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This idea began to fray when early robot AI failed to handle messy, real-world conditions.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 June 2025
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As his confidence begins to fray, and as his smoothly speeding vehicle starts to seem like more and more of a prison, the film becomes almost heart-stoppingly suspenseful.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Be careful when using this method as wire hangers can sometimes scratch the porcelain.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
4 July 2025
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Independence Day While the rest of the films on this list surely make sense, some might be scratching their heads on why a sci-fi film is considered to be one of the greatest Fourth of July films ever made.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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