HAND-WRINGINGS 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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Example Sentences

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 There has been a lot of hand-wringing lately about whether artists can still afford to live in New York. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Ocasio-Cortez’s choice to share her egg-freezing publicly has kicked off furious debate and confused hand-wringing among conservatives. — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026 New baby 3, fifth draft… In between, much hand-wringing, catastrophising, drinking of wine, learning of nursery rhymes. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 This has no relevance to anything, but Malcolm’s hand-wringing about the cat’s mental health is just so revealing there. — Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand-wringing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing

Noun

Capital One jumped 3% after struggling last week amid worries about higher gasoline prices and credit delinquencies.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2026
Several hacks on government infrastructure underscored growing worry over the use of AI to undermine cybersecurity.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

Research has also found that across generational groups, greater user tendency to engage in social comparison, together with greater maladaptive ways of coping with emotions, is associated with more symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression.

— Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
The market for profiting off male body anxiety is nothing new.

— Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxiety

Noun

In the 1980s Americans became gripped with satanic panic, the fear that Satan worshippers were committing heinous crimes against children.

— Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Thankfully, these moments of panic are now relatively short-lived.

— Cellene Hoogenkamp, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of panic

Noun

Better Over Time should give him an opportunity to expunge his anguish and, if not necessarily heal, then find clarity on why his preternatural talent has brought a mixture of blessings and frustration.

— Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
His role as a theater director in ‘The Debut,’ isn’t the showstopping kind, but it is made memorable for the actor’s moments of tenacity, anguish and vulnerability.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of anguish

Noun

Fortune recently reported on wealthy parents’ growing fear that their fortunes will sap their children’s drive.

— Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Coupled with job-displacement fears from AI, opponents now point to the facilities as a physical symbol of who benefits from the boom and who gets stuck with the bill.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of fear

Noun

El-Sayed’s former primary opponent, Haley Stevens, upended the race by endorsing Rogers, renewing focus on tensions over Israel and the party’s direction.

— Jill Colvin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
Acupressure is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique that uses finger pressure on points along the body’s energy channels to ease tension, anxiety and physical discomfort.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of tension

Noun

Hearings, trials, interviews—these are the contexts from which audience derives, and the word retains echoes of desperation.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Pettersson’s desperation check worked, as Greer spilled the puck into the high slot, where Lekkerimäki was waiting.

— Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of desperation

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hand-wringing

handwriting

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“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-wringing. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of hand-wringing

noun

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