FRETTED Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

fretted

verb

past tense of fret

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

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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

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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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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fretted After the duke’s death in 1972, the duchess, in increasingly poor health, fretted about what to do with her massive collection. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026 At the time, engineers fretted about the safest way to move so much water to the other side while maintaining the dam’s integrity. — Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretted

Verb

The killing drew national outrage and calls for accountability, becoming the latest in a string of incidents that has eroded trust in police in the small town.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Chinese firms have been suffering from declining profit growth amid intense competition that has eroded margins and even invited the government to step in.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of eroded

Verb

Bacall wore the bracelet in her daily life, carrying with her that small memento of the film that marked the beginning of her relationship with Bogart.

— Filippo Iarocci, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026
Many friends wore vintage, some designed their own looks, and others even wore their own wedding dresses.

— Shelby Wax, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of wore

Verb

Cramer also worried about rising rates, which would make capital even more scarce as Nvidia 's Jensen Huang suggested during an interview on Morning Call.

— Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
When the ethics package passed this summer, a few aldermen worried these restrictions could make running for office more complicated and discourage candidates who want to run for local office for the first time.

— Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of worried

Verb

Salazar’s attempt to distance herself from the increasingly-unpopular president could potentially appease moderate and independent voters, but her TV ad also irritated Trump personally — as well as some of his hard-core MAGA supporters.

— Michael Vasquez, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
Some develop in varicose veins; others form where a needle or IV has irritated a vein.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of irritated

Verb

That cute little feral furball was mean as hell and bit, scratched, and ultimately abandoned the family.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
Anyone who is bit or scratched should immediately seek medical attention and report the attack to police.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026