as in fretful
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in eroding
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wearing
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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3
as in worrying
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
4
as in irritating
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
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Recent Examples of fretting
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
But workers should adjust their expectations and recognize that some companies aren’t fretting about whether or not their employees can adapt to AI.
—Kevin Oakes, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Songwriters expressing pangs of grief for what once was held court with others fretting about undesirable futures and still others dreaming up cooler tomorrows.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
The economy is more fragile than seven years ago, with many Americans fretting about inflation and job prospects.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Meta and others are engaged in an accelerating AI arms race that has some economists and investors fretting about a possible bubble and seeking reassurance that revenue growth can sustain the massive spending required.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
This doesn’t sound like a strategy session by a party fretting about the state of play.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Despite all the fretting about the Eagles on the shouty national shows, this team will probably cook in November and December.
—Andy Behrens, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Portraying the ghost of Hamlet’s father at the play’s debut, his face and body covered in chalky white paint, his Shakespeare steps through the looking glass and becomes his own tragic player, strutting and fretting his hour upon the stage.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Many pro-Trump TV shows, podcasters and commentators are defaulting to a defense of law enforcement — but fretting about how the wider public is reacting to the violent imagery from Minnesota.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
But workers should adjust their expectations and recognize that some companies aren’t fretting about whether or not their employees can adapt to AI.
—Kevin Oakes, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Songwriters expressing pangs of grief for what once was held court with others fretting about undesirable futures and still others dreaming up cooler tomorrows.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
The economy is more fragile than seven years ago, with many Americans fretting about inflation and job prospects.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Meta and others are engaged in an accelerating AI arms race that has some economists and investors fretting about a possible bubble and seeking reassurance that revenue growth can sustain the massive spending required.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
This doesn’t sound like a strategy session by a party fretting about the state of play.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Despite all the fretting about the Eagles on the shouty national shows, this team will probably cook in November and December.
—Andy Behrens, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Portraying the ghost of Hamlet’s father at the play’s debut, his face and body covered in chalky white paint, his Shakespeare steps through the looking glass and becomes his own tragic player, strutting and fretting his hour upon the stage.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretting
Adjective
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There’s a fine, touching performance, however, from Showko Showfukutei as Hana’s loving but fretful mother, desperately concerned for her daughter’s well-being but inclined to show love only through unrequired domestic service.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
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The quintessential late-’80s teen, Ryder here plays a fretful mom.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This chronic underfunding is eroding the dignity of aging and straining the health care system.—
Andrew Hevesi,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Protections for workers are eroding Nepal and Bangladesh are among several countries in Asia that rely heavily on remittances from migrant workers who are vulnerable to abuses despite decades of work aimed at protecting them.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Moments later, Carthen struts into the frame wearing a Patriot's jersey corset, an enormous fur stole, and knee-high Timberland stilettos.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2026
-
For part of his sentence, he was allowed out to work with the Norwegian Football Federation coaching young players, while wearing an ankle tag.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Most of my mindset is just worrying.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
And the notion that Democrats are sitting around worrying that there will never be another clean election—that’s not true.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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A lot of anti-aging skincare contains ingredients like retinol that can be drying and irritating, but Cetaphil has a possible solution.—
Lauren Taylor,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
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Cold outdoor air plus active heat indoors can pull moisture from both the scalp and hair shaft, which can be irritating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Freezing the landscape in time is what the people of Vermont, and not merely tourists, want, but it’s also left residents with a vexed regard for visitors.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
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Brooding in the historical background are the plantations, the vexed issue of where the money comes from that underwrites all this charm, these impeccable manners, this unsteady gaiety.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Eric Richins reportedly broke out in hives and struggled to breathe after eating the sandwich, used his son’s EpiPen and took Benadryl before falling asleep for hours.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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Support yourself with a cozy ritual after handling your responsibilities, like eating your favorite food while ensconced in your coziest blanket.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Advertisement None of this will work, however, without civic courage inside countries where democracy is fraying.—
Philippe Bolopion,
Time,
1 Feb. 2026
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Yet, how could a film that takes such an intimate look at the fraying healthcare net through the story of a woman with a cognitive disability and her declining parents be otherwise?—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fretting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretting. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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