1
as in eroded
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 wore
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 worried
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fretted
The state’s changes to the rates chafed some local districts’ officials, including fire districts that fretted about affording equipment and firefighters as risks from wildfires loomed large year-round.
—
Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent college grads in particular felt the pinch, and economic policymakers fretted about slowing labor growth.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Stock-watchers cheered a market boom, and fretted about a bubble.
—Mark Niquette, Arkansas Online, 15 Dec. 2025
Stock-watchers cheered a market boom, and fretted about a bubble.
—Mark Niquette, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
Rather than sparking a larger war, as some analysts fretted, Soleimani’s assassination permanently set back Iran’s proxies.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
Generations of workers have fretted about the future of Social Security, the retirement trust fund.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Even environmentalists like Al Gore who once fretted about catastrophic accidents and radioactive waste are warming to the technology.
—Brad Plumer, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2025
Physicians and engineers alike fretted about the high stakes if a system malfunctioned.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent college grads in particular felt the pinch, and economic policymakers fretted about slowing labor growth.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Stock-watchers cheered a market boom, and fretted about a bubble.
—Mark Niquette, Arkansas Online, 15 Dec. 2025
Stock-watchers cheered a market boom, and fretted about a bubble.
—Mark Niquette, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
Rather than sparking a larger war, as some analysts fretted, Soleimani’s assassination permanently set back Iran’s proxies.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
Generations of workers have fretted about the future of Social Security, the retirement trust fund.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Even environmentalists like Al Gore who once fretted about catastrophic accidents and radioactive waste are warming to the technology.
—Brad Plumer, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2025
Physicians and engineers alike fretted about the high stakes if a system malfunctioned.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretted
Verb
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But police-reform advocates say the momentum for change after Floyd’s death has stalled — and in some cases reversed — as transparency by law-enforcement agencies across the Bay Area and the nation has steadily eroded.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Consumers have remained reluctant to spend amid an uncertain employment outlook and a prolonged property crisis that has eroded household wealth.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For the Los Angeles premiere of Marty Supreme, the two wore custom Chrome Hearts looks.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Emma Stone wore comfy, but sophisticated silk pants to a Louis Vuitton event in New York.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In contrast, 72% of respondents worried about the United States becoming too involved in the South American country, USA TODAY reports.—
Leah Olajide,
Freep.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
In contrast, 72% of respondents worried about the United States becoming too involved in the South American country.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The song, which reclaims a derogatory term for Venezuelan female migrants, was interpreted as defiant and irritated the Venezuelan president, then facing widespread reports of electoral fraud.—
Leonor C. Suárez,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Other signs your skin is being irritated by a beauty product include redness or flaking.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
On one day in late December, Eden barely ate all day.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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While neither is an effective big league pitcher at this point, those moves ate into the Yankees’ limited rotation depth.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The first one will be connected to a larger community center so that even people who are not in-patient will be able to access health care, mental health care, career counseling, financial planning management and family therapy services to help rebuild relationships frayed by addiction.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Four years later, Afghanistan has faded from headlines and those lifelines have frayed.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In October alone, shoppers were attacked in a supermarket, a Spanish tourist was scratched by a cub at a heritage site, and a trail runner was forced to wrestle a bear in the woods before sprinting to safety.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Six Central and North American teams scratched, leaving Cuba to qualify.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Bulldog or border collie, barking or getting its belly rubbed, a dog can be many things while still remaining a dog.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Jan. 2026
-
William and Kate being so involved in what happened with Andrew reportedly rubbed Queen Camilla the wrong way.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fretted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretted. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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