as in worry
disapproving
worried talk or behavior
There has been a lot of silly hand-wringing over the latest hike in interest rates.
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Recent Examples of hand-wringing
Huang’s unapologetic stance on AI is bracing in its way, especially in contrast with the public hand-wringing of many AI chieftains, fretting about the dangers of their LLMs while continuing to develop them.
—
James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
The latest round of hand-wringing on AI was set off last week when Alibaba’s co-founder said the rush to erect new facilities is getting ahead of demand for AI services.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Ironically, the film is tracking rather nicely for a March release despite all the hand-wringing and hubbub, with Snow White likely debuting at $50 million to $56 million domestically, according to a leading tracking service.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
There's obviously been a lot of hand-wringing over how Democrats treated the State of the Union address.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025
When it was published a few years ago in The Believer, the essay prompted much hand-wringing about AI and creativity, separating the collaborationists from the resistance.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
Throw in concerns about youth crime, and the hand-wringing becomes positively deafening.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
There was the usual hand-wringing about a lack of commercially minded movies on the slate, and a dearth of big sales.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
With as much hand-wringing as today’s style of play gets from the masses, games then were often low-scoring and dependent on isolation ball.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
The latest round of hand-wringing on AI was set off last week when Alibaba’s co-founder said the rush to erect new facilities is getting ahead of demand for AI services.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Ironically, the film is tracking rather nicely for a March release despite all the hand-wringing and hubbub, with Snow White likely debuting at $50 million to $56 million domestically, according to a leading tracking service.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
There's obviously been a lot of hand-wringing over how Democrats treated the State of the Union address.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025
When it was published a few years ago in The Believer, the essay prompted much hand-wringing about AI and creativity, separating the collaborationists from the resistance.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
Throw in concerns about youth crime, and the hand-wringing becomes positively deafening.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
There was the usual hand-wringing about a lack of commercially minded movies on the slate, and a dearth of big sales.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
With as much hand-wringing as today’s style of play gets from the masses, games then were often low-scoring and dependent on isolation ball.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing
Noun
-
The letter is a sign of growing ties between religious and AI safety groups, which share some of the same worries.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
21 May 2025
-
Treasury yields and the value of the U.S. dollar held relatively stable after a brief jolt Monday morning when Moody’s Ratings said the U.S. government no longer deserves a top-tier credit rating because of worries about its spiraling debt.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me?—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
-
The social media posts came shortly after TMZ reported that Furlan and the Mötley Crue drummer have been living separately amid concerns over Lee's apparent drinking.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Although summer is usually the best time for relaxing, some grads might already be feeling the anxiety that comes with starting a new school or job.—
Brenda Stolyar,
Wired News,
18 May 2025
-
As reported by First Post, Poland is holding a presidential election against a backdrop of growing security concerns, fueled by the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine and anxiety over a potential U.S. retreat from European defense commitments under President Donald Trump.—
Emma Marsden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
Heck, even fear of long lines at bars and clubs have been downgraded from panic to the typical annoyance.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
17 May 2025
-
In 2019, staff at a facility in Phoenix called 911 in a panic after a patient—who was reportedly vegetative but may have been minimally conscious—unexpectedly gave birth.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
The experiment of pairing Antetokounmpo with Damian Lillard ended in anguish when Lillard tore his Achilles during the first round of the playoffs.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2025
-
Without that, the Sinaloa cartel are likely to remain a prominent, wealthy force — and more families will feel anguish like that of Vivian Aispuro’s family.—
Isobel Yeung,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
The Albanian people deserve free elections, not another manipulated outcome enforced through fear and political imprisonment.—
Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2025
-
Krystal Sieben took her children to a horse ranch and watched as her 8-year-old son with autism, racked with fear, was on the verge of tears.—
Talia McWright,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
Though organizers insist Eurovision is an apolitical event, the contest has long been embroiled in the continent’s tensions.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
18 May 2025
-
Even in the jangling tension of stoppage time, with blocks and ricochets in their team’s penalty area, most Palace fans were silent and biting their fingernails, but the HF continued to beat that drum and sing.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
Critics argue the murders were calculated acts of greed, rather than acts of desperation by abuse victims.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
-
Vegas, now in desperation mode, will have to resolve its disappearing offense and win the battle of urgency against Edmonton — something Jack Eichel said his team lacked on Monday.—
Sarah Jean Maher,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-wringing. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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