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
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fret
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 May 2025
As the two teams look toward Game 4, Celtics fans are fretting over what appears to be a serious injury suffered by their star player, Jayson Tatum.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 14 May 2025
To a certain extent, such negativity may simply reflect an innate human tendency to fret about decline.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Sofia Grainge Baby Boys’ Short-Sleeve Romper 2-Pack Don’t fret — Richie Grainge’s new collection also has fly styles for boys.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
Much like their creator, his characters fret over details and seek to predict and manage their world.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 May 2025
As the two teams look toward Game 4, Celtics fans are fretting over what appears to be a serious injury suffered by their star player, Jayson Tatum.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 14 May 2025
To a certain extent, such negativity may simply reflect an innate human tendency to fret about decline.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Sofia Grainge Baby Boys’ Short-Sleeve Romper 2-Pack Don’t fret — Richie Grainge’s new collection also has fly styles for boys.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
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These changes threaten to erode biodiversity and make survival even harder for freshwater and land turtle populations.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Apple might be able to strike a deal with the administration — despite the eroding relationship — or challenge the tariffs in court.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
Verb
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For their big milestone, the twins wore dark blue caps and gowns with matching white asymmetrical cocktail dresses underneath, posing for photos with their classmates, friends and family members while holding flowers and their diplomas.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
24 May 2025
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Boul was literally with his current come up wearing MY jewelry.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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These trends are causing 67% of the workforce to worry about the economy’s impact on their current jobs, according to the Workforce Pulse Survey from Remote.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Market volatility has enraged Democrats and worried many Republicans as the country experiences whiplash from tariff announcements, leaving many people worried about their finances.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2025
Verb
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There are pull-ups made with Velcro that can irritate your child’s skin, especially when misaligned.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 May 2025
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Sturdy posts at the front of the shoes connect to a flip-flop style design that won’t irritate or chafe your skin, while the supportive insoles are far better-suited for days spent on your feet than flimsy, cheaper sandals.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Advocacy organizations that defend immigrant rights such as the Rural & Migrant Ministry and the Finger Lakes Rapid Response Network have held workshops to teach immigrants about their legal rights and to discourage them from spreading panic with unverified reports.—
Ana Ley,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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Remove some anxiety by preparing a hurricane kit of essentials now so you aren’t huddled in a soul-crushing line of fellow panic buyers at the supermarkets when the next storm watch and warning arrives.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
29 May 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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He’s healed physically, but his mental health is frayed.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 May 2025
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The partnership of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has been central to White House operations since the administration took office in January, but with Musk now stepping away from the limelight, there are signs that the personal bond between the two has frayed.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Verb
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But the car industry has not scratched the surface of these vehicles' potential.—
Emily Forlini,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2025
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First-timers typically make a beeline for Madrid and Barcelona, but even then, most people will only scratch the surface of these cities and their surroundings.—
Siobhan Reid,
Vogue,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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