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
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
Bombshells Kenzie is fretting about not being Zach’s type and yet not taking the hint all the way until bombshell time the following night.
—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Traders are all-in on AI, but Americans are fretting over its impact on jobs.
—
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
24 May 2026
After games, many Thunder players reside by their lockers cracking jokes and catching up instead of fretting over roles and playing time.
—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
The tension drew the attention of Abbott’s office, which was supportive of Tips at periods but also fretting that the regulations were not coming together and state lawmakers were growing impatient, Bingaman said.
—
Dug Begley,
Houston Chronicle,
4 May 2026
Meta employees have spent much of the year fretting about job cuts, which already hit the Reality Labs division and other teams.
—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Increasingly, teachers and schools fretting over students using artificial intelligence to complete their assignments are turning to AI detectors to catch would-be cheaters.
—
Nathan Agranovsky,
Washington Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Bombshells Kenzie is fretting about not being Zach’s type and yet not taking the hint all the way until bombshell time the following night.
—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Traders are all-in on AI, but Americans are fretting over its impact on jobs.
—
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
24 May 2026
After games, many Thunder players reside by their lockers cracking jokes and catching up instead of fretting over roles and playing time.
—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
The tension drew the attention of Abbott’s office, which was supportive of Tips at periods but also fretting that the regulations were not coming together and state lawmakers were growing impatient, Bingaman said.
—
Dug Begley,
Houston Chronicle,
4 May 2026
Meta employees have spent much of the year fretting about job cuts, which already hit the Reality Labs division and other teams.
—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Increasingly, teachers and schools fretting over students using artificial intelligence to complete their assignments are turning to AI detectors to catch would-be cheaters.
—
Nathan Agranovsky,
Washington Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretting
Adjective
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The fretful electronic score is by Flying Lotus, Elliot Leung and Olivia Xiaolin.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus provides the voice of Miss Maple, renamed Lily and far more fretful and fearful than in the book.
Verb
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But experts and users warn that technology risks eroding authenticity and chemistry at the heart of real-world relationships.
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This trend, partly driven by workplace loneliness, risks eroding company culture and coworker cohesion.
Verb
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He was last seen wearing a light green shirt, camouflage shorts and white socks.
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Murdaugh’s team initially asked that he be allowed to come to all court appearances, including pretrial hearings, wearing civilian clothes and unshackled.
Verb
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There was drama, remarkable goals and worrying injury in Sweden’s showdown with Japan at AT&T Stadium Thursday in the final Group F match.
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The president's strategy is already worrying some Democrats in swing districts, such as Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen on Long Island.
Verb
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But for those who just want to grab a bite or see a movie at the IMAX theater, the security protocol is an additional — possibly irritating — barrier.
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The active ingredients in the formula include niacinamide, adenosine, and allantoin, which work together to brighten dark circles, smooth fine lines, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles without irritating sensitive skin.
Adjective
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How to do that was a very vexed and complicated problem.
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From his perspective, whatever happened was easily resolved — but working on a megahit can make matters more vexed.
Verb
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While oysters in space appear to be a newer research opportunity, Harrisburg states that humans have been eating these creatures for 100,000 years, based on archaeology findings.
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Is low-carb or low-fat eating healthier for your heart?
Verb
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The same fear of a fraying dollar system is driving Russia and others toward bitcoin and pushing Wall Street to treat which reserve asset wins as a live question.
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And that net of community health workers who serve as links between families and this lifesaving treatment is fraying.
Cite this Entry
“Fretting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretting. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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