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 Investors have fretted about the possibility that Fox’s deal for Roku could get tied up as a result of Ruddy’s efforts. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026 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 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 protagonist, Michael, whose Chinese identity has been eroded by successive generations, is desperately curious about Kun’s dad.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
Trust in judicial institutions has been eroded both by political conflicts around the courts and the daily inefficiencies of an overburdened judiciary.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 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

Democrats also swept all three available school board seats, just two years after Republican state lawmakers made the traditionally nonpartisan elections partisan, a change that Democratic candidates worried would put them at a disadvantage.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026
Yet Wall Street may have found opportunity in the same slowdown that worried AI's biggest backers.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 4 Nov. 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

Definition of scratched

Verb

The bird is brined, steeped in two separate marinades, rubbed with jerk paste, then smoked low and slow over pimento wood imported from Jamaica.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Cameron was clearly upset, and walked off after his chat with Julianne as Burgess rubbed his back.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2026