Synonyms of fretted

fretted

verb

past tense of fret

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

• eroded
• ate
• gnawed
• destroyed
• corroded
• bit (at)
• nibbled
• ruined
• decomposed
• wrecked
• disintegrated
• dissolved
• wasted
• devastated
• decimated
• broke up
• broke down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restored
• renewed
• revived
• refreshed
• freshened
• recreated
• revitalized
• rejuvenated
• regenerated
• refreshened

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

• eroded
• wore
• frayed
• rubbed
• chafed
• galled
• reduced
• rasped
• frazzled
• scraped
• abraded
• erased
• shaved
• ate
• sharpened
• gnawed
• corraded
• filed
• scoured
• chewed
• sandpapered
• grazed
• scuffed
• nibbled
• ground
• sandblasted
• corroded
• grated
• disintegrated
• decomposed
• wiped (away)
• wore out
• bit
• rubbed out
• honed
• dissolved
• whetted
• broke up
• broke down

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worried
• feared
• stressed
• troubled
• stewed
• fussed
• bothered
• agonized
• sweat
• pined
• longed
• sweat blood
• gave a hang
• yearned
• despaired
• chafed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accepted
• took
• sustained
• endured
• tolerated
• bore
• stuck out
• abided
• stomached

4

as in irritated

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

• irritated
• scratched
• scraped
• excoriated
• chafed
• galled
• abraded
• grazed
• burned
• peeled
• skinned
• inflamed
• flayed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fretted

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

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

None of its marks seem to maintain their integrity for more than an inch or two without being fretted or spoiled. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Benchmark oil prices also topped $90 a barrel as investors fretted that efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were making little headway. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile in England, Queen Victoria fretted about receiving a gemstone obtained in such an unsavory way, and worried about the condition of Duleep. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

Other European politicians fretted about national infrastructure and defense, with one comparing the loss of Mythos to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026

Daniel de Visé Stocks opened lower on July 29, ahead of Federal Reserve action on interest rates, as traders fretted about rising oil prices. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 July 2026