Synonyms of fret

fret 1 of 2

verb

ˈfret 

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

• erode
• eat
• corrode
• gnaw
• bite (at)
• nibble
• destroy
• ruin
• decompose
• waste
• disintegrate
• dissolve
• wreck
• break down
• break up
• decimate
• devastate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restore
• renew
• refresh
• recreate
• revive
• regenerate
• rejuvenate
• freshen
• revitalize
• refreshen

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

• wear
• fray
• erode
• rub
• chafe
• reduce
• abrade
• gall
• bite
• erase
• shave
• eat
• scrape
• sharpen
• corrade
• gnaw
• frazzle
• file
• rasp
• scour
• graze
• nibble
• chew
• scuff
• corrode
• wear out
• grate
• wipe (away)
• grind
• disintegrate
• rub out
• sandpaper
• decompose
• sandblast
• whet
• dissolve
• hone
• break down
• break up

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

• worry
• fear
• stress
• bother
• trouble
• stew
• fuss
• sweat
• long
• give a hang
• sweat blood
• pine
• yearn
• agonize
• despair
• chafe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accept
• take
• endure
• tolerate
• sustain
• bear
• abide
• stomach
• stick out

4

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritate
• scratch
• scrape
• chafe
• excoriate
• abrade
• gall
• graze
• skin
• burn
• peel
• inflame
• flay

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• panic
• fuss
• huff
• sweat
• tizzy
• dither
• lather
• pother
• fluster
• stew
• swelter
• twitter
• swivet
• bother
• dudgeon
• ado
• pique
• hysteria
• alarm
• hand-wringing
• agitation
• delirium
• nervous breakdown
• furor
• distraction
• uproar

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fret

Verb

Ultimately, the C-suite led with the name that signaled quality to the widest set of possible consumers (even if execs privately fretted about diluting the good name of HBO with a streaming service featuring thousands of shows of varying quality). — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026

Szabo’s photos, by contrast, are remarkably free of fretting or judgment. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

Calls for a slowdown in artificial intelligence development sparked a global sell-off in technology stocks on Monday, as investors fretted over the sustainability of spending in a sector that has driven financial markets to record highs. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026

Traders have lately fretted about the effect of rising oil prices on inflation. — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!