Synonyms of fretting

fretting 1 of 2

adjective

as in fretful

Related Words

• fretful
• vexed
• apprehensive
• stewing
• hesitant
• bothered
• foreboding
• distraught
• aggrieved
• misgiving
• worried
• disquieted
• distressed
• disturbed
• freaked
• upset
• shook-up
• perturbed
• flustered
• concerned
• preoccupied
• troubled
• unstrung
• anxious
• uptight
• unnerved
• nervous
• undone
• jittery
• freaked-out
• insecure
• ill at ease
• qualmish
• restless
• obsessed
• goosey
• unquiet
• jumpy
• qualmy
• fidgety
• antsy
• queasy
• tense
• dithery
• atwitter
• uneasy
• high-strung
• twittered
• nervy
• fluttery
• aflutter
• hinky
• flighty
• edgy
• skittish
• het up
• spooky
• hung up
• hypertense

Dissimilar Words

• collected
• calm
• easy
• relaxed
• sure
• cool
• nerveless
• confident
• happy-go-lucky
• controlled
• self-assured
• self-confident
• self-controlled

fretting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fret

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• eroding
• eating
• nibbling
• gnawing
• corroding
• biting (at)
• destroying
• decomposing
• wasting
• ruining
• disintegrating
• wrecking
• dissolving
• devastating
• decimating
• breaking down
• breaking up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restoring
• reviving
• renewing
• regenerating
• recreating
• rejuvenating
• revitalizing
• freshening
• refreshing
• refreshening

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wearing
• eroding
• fraying
• rubbing
• chafing
• reducing
• galling
• abrading
• eating
• shaving
• biting
• scraping
• erasing
• filing
• sharpening
• gnawing
• rasping
• scouring
• corrading
• frazzling
• chewing
• nibbling
• scuffing
• grazing
• sandpapering
• corroding
• grinding
• grating
• decomposing
• sandblasting
• disintegrating
• wiping (away)
• wearing out
• honing
• dissolving
• whetting
• rubbing out
• breaking down
• breaking up

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worrying
• fearing
• stressing
• sweating
• stewing
• bothering
• troubling
• fussing
• pining
• yearning
• agonizing
• longing
• giving a hang
• sweating blood
• chafing
• despairing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accepting
• taking
• sustaining
• bearing
• enduring
• tolerating
• abiding
• sticking out
• stomaching

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritating
• scratching
• scraping
• chafing
• excoriating
• galling
• abrading
• grazing
• peeling
• burning
• skinning
• inflaming
• flaying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fretting

Verb

The machine works using a series of gears, magnetic actuators, and arms in a mechanical structure split into the equivalent of a musician's fretting hand and picking hand. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2026

National Democrats are fretting that John Fetterman will switch parties. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 31 July 2026

While he was surprised by his fellow Klutch Sports Group client’s decision, Moody preached patience to Warriors fans fretting about their own team’s inactivity this offseason. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 30 July 2026

To walk around fretting about the potential of a car accident doesn’t do anyone any good; there are numerous variables involved that are well beyond your control. — William Jones, Ascend Agency, 17 July 2026

Aboard the Crystal Symphony not so long ago, our butler was fretting about matzo balls. — Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

While Rhaenyra is busy fretting about how to most humanely punish this random son of Westeros, Lord Hightower and his army march on Tumbleton and take the city hostage. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026

On the other side of the office, Islas, Alejo’s boss, is fretting about how to keep Alejo’s team employed. — Megan Greenwell, Bloomberg, 9 June 2026

Scenes of furious sketching, intricate designs of delicate cutouts and swirling shapes and fabrics, pinning, sewing and the bustle of runway shows alternate with fretting about how to pay the rent. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 June 2026