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
The economic potential is real, but the hand-wringing is overblown.
—
Editorial Board, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Silver’s success has also sparked a hand-wringing on social media where users are posting sardonic memes about Bitcoin’s stumbles.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Despite all the hand-wringing about tampering, the NCAA rulebook classifies it as a Level II violation, not Level I, which usually results in minor penalties.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Beyond music, the creation of a lifelike AI actress named Tilly Norwood has sparked similarly existential hand-wringing across Hollywood.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
So much for all that hand-wringing.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Here is why hand-wringing should remain tempered.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
In the book’s introduction, Kaplan does a bit of perfunctory hand-wringing about the state of the country, arguing that Decca is a model for how to generate empathy in a time of polarization.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
All the recent obituaries for videos are premature, just as all the hand-wringing over the decline of MTV seems extremely postmature.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025
Editorial Board, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Silver’s success has also sparked a hand-wringing on social media where users are posting sardonic memes about Bitcoin’s stumbles.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Despite all the hand-wringing about tampering, the NCAA rulebook classifies it as a Level II violation, not Level I, which usually results in minor penalties.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Beyond music, the creation of a lifelike AI actress named Tilly Norwood has sparked similarly existential hand-wringing across Hollywood.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
So much for all that hand-wringing.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Here is why hand-wringing should remain tempered.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
In the book’s introduction, Kaplan does a bit of perfunctory hand-wringing about the state of the country, arguing that Decca is a model for how to generate empathy in a time of polarization.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
All the recent obituaries for videos are premature, just as all the hand-wringing over the decline of MTV seems extremely postmature.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing
Noun
-
Its stock has been under pressure because of worries that competitors powered by artificial intelligence technology could upend its industry and take away customers.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
But the new study—along with previous research—reiterates that worries of weight gain with mango consumption aren’t substantiated.—
Lauren Manaker MS,
Health,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Prosecutors said county staffers raised concerns about the organization with their supervisors.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The members of the council understand that the disarray wrought by Clark’s departure and the lingering concerns about Meyer could be exploited by the owners during bargaining sessions.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Tobacco parallels The Los Angeles trial centers on allegations made by a 20-year-old woman, Kaley, and her mother that four social media giants intentionally designed addictive platforms that hooked her as a child and led to mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The lurch from confidence to anxiety has been a key reason Villa have not held their nerve in some supposedly easier fixtures.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic.—
Fabiola Sanchez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kathleen Hanna fronted punk greats Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, two bands that existed at different times in the evolving (but still sexist) conversation about women and their place in culture, with the musicians often serving as paragons of feminist critique and anguish.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Even now, more than 40 years later, the lasting image of her career is of Decker laying on the track in anguish and tears after colliding with Zola Budd in the 1984 Olympic 3,000-meter run.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That puts the fear of God into him.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The Showtime Lakers faced those fears and overcame them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The tension between maintaining recognizable signatures and demonstrating evolution remains central to her strategy.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Sports are inherently fraught with tension, but some seem preordained to it more than others.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At just 22 years of age, Wembanyama plays with the desperation of a 15-year vet making one last playoff run before retirement.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Too many Floridians are being driven to desperation by skyrocketing premiums.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-wringing. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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