HAND-WRINGING Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

hand-wringing

noun

Definition of hand-wringing

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hand-wringing Would all the hand-wringing about the price be moot after experiencing one? — Sara Lacey, The Drive, 25 June 2026 Signs of greater regulatory scrutiny in the country's semiconductor sector also added to the hand-wringing. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 23 June 2026 Signs of greater regulatory scrutiny in the country's semiconductor sector also added to the hand-wringing. — ABC News, 22 June 2026 Many of the hand-wringing pieces written at the 2014 World Cup were in the English language, as is this article. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand-wringing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing

Noun

It’s made from 100 percent cotton and fully lined for lightweight comfort and worry-free wear.

— Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
His two biggest worries are that people will potentially lose their business and cities losing the permit income to conduct health inspections.

— Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

Western analysts have raised concerns that Beijing’s expanding role setting global norms around AI will enable it to export the norms of its own highly restrictive media and internet environment.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Alicia Guerra of the firm Buchalter spoke at the June 16 meeting to voice concerns on behalf of the city related to the project.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of concern

Noun

His instinctive reaction, tearful after losing another final, was to throw in the towel, to announce his career with Argentina was over at the age of 29, to focus on his club career, which by comparison brought him so much joy and so little anxiety.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Because of their history of poor sleep, people with insomnia may suffer from anxiety about getting inadequate sleep, which can then increase sleeplessness at night.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 18, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 July 2026

Definition of anxiety

Noun

The Red Sox have surged without their injured ace, Garrett Crochet, who last pitched on April 25, the day Breslow fired manager Alex Cora and five coaches in a panic move, power play or, perhaps, a prescient vision of what a change could mean.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Mediation may yet come back into focus if oil markets panic and the price of crude returns above $100 on the back of shrinking reserves worldwide.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Definition of panic

Noun

Yet, outside the excellently claustrophobic Trojan Horse scenes, Nolan is more interested in exploring his anguish than his spoils.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Your mind fills with all the defeats; all the anguish of mistakes made and opportunities missed.

— Kristine Fischer, Outdoor Life, 16 July 2026

Definition of anguish

Noun

Wall Street looked past geopolitical tensions with benchmark indexes rising on Big Tech strength and signs of easing inflation, even as Middle East hostilities escalated.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 July 2026
But Wednesday’s amendment vote is a preview of Democratic tensions to come after nearly half of the caucus voted to support it, including leaders like Whip Katherine Clark and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 July 2026

Definition of tension

Noun

Anna Marian Block, a spokesperson for the Republican Governors Association, said Moore’s trip was a sign of desperation for Georgia Democrats, not strength.

— Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Morocco’s quality and desperation ultimately proved the difference as Saibari scored for the third group game running before Soufiane Rahimi’s second-half cameo got them the win.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of desperation

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“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-wringing. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hand-wringing

noun

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