as in panics
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
Relevance
1
as in erodes
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wears
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 worries
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frets
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
But the good-neighbor vibe is starting to sour as Colombia frets about river access.
—John Otis, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
As Kirk frets about commanding a hybrid Farragut–Enterprise (but mostly Enterprise) crew, Spock, Uhura, Scotty, and Chapel arrive with an assessment of the situation.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Instead of asking if Kyle is okay, Fraser frets that her husband paid the tip.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
But the same dry, wry, demented wit, as well as the pitiless looks at one of the rare species on Earth that walks on two legs and frets about their lattes being too hot, are present and accounted for.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
But the good-neighbor vibe is starting to sour as Colombia frets about river access.
—John Otis, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
As Kirk frets about commanding a hybrid Farragut–Enterprise (but mostly Enterprise) crew, Spock, Uhura, Scotty, and Chapel arrive with an assessment of the situation.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Every generation finds new ways to parent, and every generation frets about it.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Instead of asking if Kyle is okay, Fraser frets that her husband paid the tip.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frets
Verb
-
For any administration to treat them that way erodes our national security and flies in the face of Congress’ constitutional obligation to oversee matters of war and peace.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
29 Oct. 2025
-
When the only people receiving relief are celebrities, political insiders or headline-makers, public confidence erodes.—
Khalil Cumberbatch,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Two actors play the little bear from Peru — Arti Shah wears the costume and provides the physical performance while James Hameed provides the voice from offstage and controls Paddington’s facial expressions remotely.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Heavy is the head that wears the crown.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the short term, Jaime also worries that some workers may have no choice but to leave their children in less-than-ideal settings to keep working – like with an adult in the community who's informally looking after many of the children who would otherwise be in Head Start.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Lyman also worries that money spent of fusion could siphon dollars from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The group exhausts and irritates opposing pitchers.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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During his appearance on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast alongside his The Roses costar Olivia Colman, the 49-year-old actor opened up about what irritates his family members.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In the bad ending, Fettel takes her child and eats her to absorb her power.—
Will Borger,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
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In an average week, a SNAP beneficiary eats seven cans of food, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This particular aspect of the show frays the gripping tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Conjuring the troubled inner life of a young, beautiful and successful Buenos Aires fashion designer with an uncommon mix of stylistic rigor and feeling, the film frays your nerves.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The affidavit said that the victim suffered minor injuries, including a bruise on her left eye and scratches on the right side of her neck.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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The Science Behind the Hack Elkus explained that the marks often seen on white or light-colored dishes are metal deposits left behind by silverware, not scratches in the glaze.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Like your favorite pair of sweats, a roomy top is the item in any closet always worth returning to.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Wear red sweats and apply red face makeup.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frets. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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