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 The lack of hand-wringing from outside legacy media may indicate a bigger shift. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 June 2026 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. — 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
  1. worry
  2. concern
  3. anxiety
  4. panic
  5. anguish
  6. fear
  7. tension
  8. desperation
Noun
  • For some clubs that were running close to the wire under PSR, the shift will ease regulatory worries, as operating costs are now excluded.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms Symptoms can include sleeplessness, extreme worry about the baby or childbirth, restlessness and a racing heartbeat.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of worry
Noun
  • Connecticut Coalition for Pretrial Justice formed to press for reform of the cash bail system in Connecticut, something the group said keeps people behind bars not based on safety concerns but on their ability to pay.
    — Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Reports have surfaced this week of mental health concerns aboard the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as its crew endures more than 200 days without a port call during operations against Iran.
    — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of concern
Noun
  • Validate their emotions by acknowledging any anxieties and feelings as normal.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Poor sleep in teens is tied to anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, weaker peer support and trouble getting through the school day.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Noun
  • Cripps said her son was in Japan competing in a sporting event but called her in a panic.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The answer isn't panic, protectionism or slogans about winning the future.
    — Will Conaway, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of panic
Noun
  • Almodóvar’s film focuses on the suffering caused by a terminal diagnosis, and the additional anguish incurred by not having the option of aid in dying.
    — Vanessa Rampton, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026
  • With the help of an athletic trainer, Hoecht was guided to a bench and plopped down in anguish.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of anguish
Noun
  • Leaders in Springfield say the growing ICE presence many fear hasn’t yet materialized.
    — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Finally, heading off to senior year wearing a Care Bears backpack could be a coping mechanism that helps teens deal with fears about the future.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Rising interfaith tensions and crime have driven many of the area’s Christians to emigrate, several said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Debbie intervenes to defuse the tension, then gets distracted by the presence of her nemesis, Cha Cha.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tension
Noun
  • In desperation, Shraddha took her to another hospital with lower fees.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Later in the film, after the separation of the father from the rest of the family, the color red comes to signify a sense of desperation.
    — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of desperation

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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 15 Aug. 2026.

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