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
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
Just this spring, from hand-wringing about the state of the league to, today, a finals that has everyone excited to tune in.
—
Dan Shanoff,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Normally, this time of year for Bay Area residents means blooms of orange poppies, graduation announcements and hand-wringing over the San Francisco Giants’ record.
—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
But this hand-wringing has led to little tangible reform.
—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
And despite the offseason hand-wringing, baseball’s in a better spot than it’s been in decades.
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Perhaps because of their rarity, aviation incidents (or near accidents) tend to generate headlines and hand-wringing.
—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Publicly, without hand-wringing.
—
Kyle P. Edmonds,
STAT,
9 Apr. 2026
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
Just this spring, from hand-wringing about the state of the league to, today, a finals that has everyone excited to tune in.
—
Dan Shanoff,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Normally, this time of year for Bay Area residents means blooms of orange poppies, graduation announcements and hand-wringing over the San Francisco Giants’ record.
—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
But this hand-wringing has led to little tangible reform.
—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
And despite the offseason hand-wringing, baseball’s in a better spot than it’s been in decades.
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Perhaps because of their rarity, aviation incidents (or near accidents) tend to generate headlines and hand-wringing.
—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Publicly, without hand-wringing.
—
Kyle P. Edmonds,
STAT,
9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing
Noun
-
Any worries about complacency were wiped away in the third minute when Auston Trusty fired home the opening goal and caused the stands at SoFi Stadium to shake (literally) with the noise and jumping fans.
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Reformation’s move toward the open market also signals that the time might be right — with Wall Street hitting all-time highs despite worries about inflation and AI — for fashion to jump in.
Noun
-
Newsom has not said if the newer version of the bill quells this concern.
-
Still, British politics could become a more pressing concern for the bond market with Burnham at the helm.
Noun
-
As burnout, anxiety and digital overload continue to climb, many are discovering that recovery requires doing less—not more.
-
In a neighborhood sometimes marked by gangs and violence, and in a time of heightened anxiety over immigration enforcement, the Fiesta Back of the Yards acts as a beacon of light, offering food, social services, music and fun in a safe environment.
Noun
-
With the rise of tablets and tech worldwide, toys have begun to become obsolete, causing mass panic among toys.
-
Brokers often list speculative tickets for those tours before an on-sale even starts, hoping some more desperate fans will buy in a panic.
Noun
-
Canada’s first-ever World Cup win was overshadowed yesterday when midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg after a tackle that left teammates shaken and coach Jesse Marsch lamenting an injury that turned a night of celebration into one of anguish.
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Lost in the Brazilian tears, anguish and confusion was just how clinical the Germans had been.
Noun
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As Kennedy and Bessette spend more time together and grow closer, her intimidation of the spotlight and fear of invasive paparazzi often create tension in their relationship, despite his attempts to calm the situation.
-
Throughout the whole battle, that’s when fear really sets in for Jace.
Noun
-
The tension in these tracks are the binding agent for Jane’s fan base — the music is full of contradictions and incompatibilities smashing together that just feel like being young right now.
-
Civilians in the area have not been instructed to evacuate but have faced checkpoints and tension, with occasional clashes between Israeli soldiers and villagers.
Noun
-
Electing Talarico would be like connecting on one of those last-second, desperation, alley-oop passes in the end zone.
-
This match finally picked up in the second half, reflecting the desperation each side had after losing their opening matches.
Cite this Entry
“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-wringing. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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