hand-wringing

noun

Definition of hand-wringingnext
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 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 Deployment is no longer the constraint, and that is a real accomplishment that gets lost in the ROI hand-wringing. — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand-wringing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing
  1. worry
  2. concern
  3. anxiety
  4. panic
  5. anguish
  6. fear
  7. tension
  8. desperation
Noun
  • Plush carpeting, touches of turquoise in a largely eggshell-forward palette, tasteful landscape paintings that border on abstract, and spacious private balconies make up the subtle suite design, allaying any worries of dowdy beach resort decor.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Those moves have helped the stock market climb a wall of worry in the intervening years, including in 2026.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of worry
Noun
  • Patients complete an online survey covering their skin concerns, history, current routine and goals, which is reviewed by a clinician licensed in their state.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • YouTube Dividing Lines Drawn The inseparable relationship between YouTube and TV was clear for all to see at MIPCOM Cannes but serious concerns from the latter remain.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of concern
Noun
  • The Social Reckoning stars Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White each had their own unique anxieties about following up 2010’s beloved The Social Network.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The unrest followed days of clashes in Liège, where more than 200 people were arrested, while demonstrators in Brussels described growing anxiety over the cost of daily life.
    — Mark Carlson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Noun
  • And the resulting panic about disorder was then exploited to enable still more dehumanizing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of panic, Shapero said employers should see their staff’s posts as free advertising.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of panic
Noun
  • None of this diminishes the humanity of a fetus or the anguish of parents confronting a lethal or life-limiting diagnosis.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Love is actually heartbreak, pain, anguish, but the myth of love is happiness and joy.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of anguish
Noun
  • Fallout from the data sale Then there are fears this case may set precedent or have long-term consequences for workers.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Hours of silence and speculation in the aftermath added to a sense of fear in Saudi Arabia and across the region.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Their presence has fueled social tensions in Ceuta and become a political issue across Spain, where opposition parties hope to use migration concerns to unseat the progressive government in next month's elections.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Despite seeking international support and launching a new military offensive, Saudi Arabia faces a conflict with no clear endgame, as fragmented allies and unresolved regional tensions make a lasting solution hard to achieve.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of tension
Noun
  • Both teams now limp into Saturday's game in Austin with bruised bodies and egos, and carrying a whiff of desperation for a win to keep the season from unraveling.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Brown and her relatives say the fallen officer tragedy has reignited their trauma and desperation for justice.
    — Liz Crawford, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of desperation

Browse Nearby Words

handwringers
hand-wringing
handwriting
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Cite this Entry

“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-wringing. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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