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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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 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 Instead, the Democratic Party is left with much hand-wringing ahead of November's midterm elections and growing calls for the party's executive leader to step down. — Michel Martin, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026 Their relatively easy approval was a stark contrast to the hand-wringing at the Chicago City Council over Mayor Brandon Johnson’s transit appointments, which ultimately passed after objections over their direct introductions in committee. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2026 There has been a lot of hand-wringing about the declining population of Los Angeles County, which lost 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the biggest numeric population drop in the nation during that period, by far. — Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand-wringing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing

Noun

Bi is at work on a black gown with a veil, which Christian worries is taking up too much time.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Meanwhile, worries over inflation, higher rates and high debt remain in focus, as benchmark borrowing costs around the world extend their multi-decade highs.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

While more than 100 law enforcement agencies across the country have ended their contracts with Flock Safety in recent weeks over privacy concerns, the company and the state of Georgia are deeply tied to one another.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
And as a result, the data centers built to enable this growth have drawn scrutiny from communities and across party lines, including concerns over higher electric bills.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of concern

Noun

There’s a lot of panic right now about the bumpy intersection of artificial intelligence and art-making.

— Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Unwilling to expose himself in this moment, Paul Baker juggles both of his competing personas, continuing the bro-y shouting but with a new panic in his voice and in Jack Innanen’s expressions.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of panic

Noun

For Alex’s family, those seven months have done little to dull the anguish over what happened to him — or their determination to see the two officers who fired the shots held responsible.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Some say there is a fine line between anguish or sadness — and laughter.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of anguish

Noun

As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.

— Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
The announcement is spurring fears of a fresh wave of Canadian travelers steering clear of the US.

— Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of fear

Noun

Thom’s uncomfortable intensity carries over to Hamburger Hamlet, where the tension between the couple finally reaches a breaking point.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
The tension has continued for months and grown into a major foreign and defense policy challenge for countries in the European Union.

— Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of tension

Browse Nearby Words

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hand-wringing

handwriting

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Style

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

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Synonyms of hand-wringing

noun

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