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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in fretful
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretting
Verb
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The traditional barriers surrounding proprietary AI are eroding, ushering in a new era of innovation that will redefine the global AI race.—
Vandana Rana,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025 -
Gerrymandering reduces electoral competition, entrenches incumbents, and marginalizes whole communities, ultimately eroding public trust in democracy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Overweight and obesity need to be treated safely and effectively to avoid that worrying forecast.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Dec. 2024
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Conclusion While the Fed’s efforts to tame runaway inflation rates has helped market sentiments in the past, its recent hawkish outlook for 2025 is now worrying investors.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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When handled, these treefrogs secrete a sticky toxin as a defense, which can be irritating to mucous membranes of people or pets who make contact with them.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2025
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All three ingredients offer significant benefits for skin brightening and skin texture, but also tend to be irritating to people with sensitive skin.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Surf camp instructors noted that authorities have said the waters in Santa Monica Bay and elsewhere are safe, but some parents remain fretful.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2025
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Suddenly the Toronto crowd’s sound turned from festive to fretful.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2025
Verb
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The team looks to address that in the first round here, selecting space-eating defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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May Aid With Blood Sugar Control Because coconuts are high in fiber and fat while low in sugar and carbohydrates, some scientists theorize that eating coconuts may help with blood sugar control.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The hems are finished with double stitching to prevent the edges from fraying or unraveling.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Perspective, of course, is sometimes no match for the cold math of an underwhelming win streak or a locker room with fraying edges.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Similar to a sheet pan, whole meals can be built in a Dutch oven, scratching that same itch for convenience and less clean up.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
23 Dec. 2024
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But that’s just scratching the surface – addressing only the symptoms of the underlying challenges and only addressing them at the end of the SDLC process.—
Jeremy Vaughan,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But best of all here is the vexed mother/daughter relationship, which can echo Lizzy’s terms with her own mother.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
4 June 2025
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One of the film’s vexed visual motifs is a mirroring of the encampments at Columbia and the refugee tent cities in Palestine.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
17 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Fretting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretting. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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