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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fret
Nathan Agranovsky, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2026
The accusations reordered a wide-open gubernatorial race that had Democrats fretting the party’s large number of candidates could lead to them getting shut out of the general election in November.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
And many, in a district in which more than 86% of students are low-income, fretted about feeding their kids.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
On a recent morning, Alexandre Joseph, 35, fretted about his family’s future in a loud voice, attracting the attention of passersby in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
Increasingly, teachers and schools fretting over students using artificial intelligence to complete their assignments are turning to AI detectors to catch would-be cheaters.
—Nathan Agranovsky, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2026
The accusations reordered a wide-open gubernatorial race that had Democrats fretting the party’s large number of candidates could lead to them getting shut out of the general election in November.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
And many, in a district in which more than 86% of students are low-income, fretted about feeding their kids.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
On a recent morning, Alexandre Joseph, 35, fretted about his family’s future in a loud voice, attracting the attention of passersby in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
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European carmakers are losing their premium brand status in China, as younger consumers opt for cars from domestic brands, further eroding Western firms’ prospects in a cutthroat global market.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
In a market as mobile as high-end real estate, even modest shifts can erode the tax base.—
Martha E. Stark,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Two men carried an effigy of Maduro, his eyes blood-red, and his teeth vampiric, wearing a prison jumpsuit with a chain around his neck.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
-
For accessories, Hathaway wore a set of pink gold Bulgari jewels, including a sparkly wrap bracelet, dangling earrings, and a red cocktail ring, according to InStyle.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
A lot could happen before either makes their season debut, which is why Gil isn’t worrying about his future just yet.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Gutiérrez worries that Trump’s eagerness for a trophy that has evaded 12 Democratic and Republican presidents could get the better of him.—
Joshua Goodman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Joining Stuart’s quest are his girlfriend, Denise (Lapkus); geologist buddy Bert (Posehn); and irritating quantum physicist Barry Kripke (Bowie).—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Apr. 2026
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The Be Gentle, Be Kind Detangling Spray is no different and is free from fragrance and essential oils, two common ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The government is mindful of not hurting economic growth or spurring panic among consumers.—
Shoko Oda,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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Radioactive clouds spread, causing panic as far away as Germany and Britain; millions of litres of milk were dumped; livestock was destroyed or banned from sale.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The shots rang out from the back of the ballroom as attendees were eating their first course, several minutes after White House Correspondents’ Association President Weija Jiang delivered remarks.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
26 Apr. 2026
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Word got around and surfers came to the restaurant from all over San Diego County, gathered around the tables, ate burgers and swapped their tales.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their bond begins to fray, and betrayal — once utterly unthinkable — now becomes all too possible.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
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The coalition of supporters that made this strategy work has frayed, and new research is raising concerns about the health impact of regular cannabis use.—
William Garriott,
The Conversation,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Twice in the last three years, and also in 2011, Repole brought a promising horse to the Derby and had to scratch him before post time.—
Jay Posner,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Unlike nylon brushes, silicone ones carry no risk of scratching or removing paint from your bottle.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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