as in fretting
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in boiling
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam
stew the chicken till tender, and then remove the meat from the bones
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in worrying
to experience concern or anxiety
stop stewing over that game and just try to do better next time
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stewing
Liam Scott, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2026
But South Carolina’s returners have spent a year stewing on that championship loss, specifically on UConn’s 23-point margin of victory.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Hughes spent weeks stewing before calling director Howie Deutsch with the solution.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
After nine episodes spent stewing in suspicion, the CBS legal drama has released the tension from one of its biggest secrets and forced Julian into action.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
Short cooking preparations of okra, such as frying or sauteeing, release less mucilage than long ones, such as stewing.
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Not so Wolverhampton Wanderers or West Ham United, who really are stewing in their own juices.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
After two-plus days of stewing over the no-show against the Rockets, including a team meeting on Saturday and a rare Sunday morning shootaround, the Lakers found themselves in the second quarter, with Doncic scoring 15 of his 24 first-half points in the period for a 68-53 halftime lead.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Add the stewing beef and cook until the meat is no longer pink, stirring frequently.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
The tomatoes for the shakshouka have been stewing for hours.
—Liam Scott, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2026
But South Carolina’s returners have spent a year stewing on that championship loss, specifically on UConn’s 23-point margin of victory.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Hughes spent weeks stewing before calling director Howie Deutsch with the solution.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
After nine episodes spent stewing in suspicion, the CBS legal drama has released the tension from one of its biggest secrets and forced Julian into action.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
Short cooking preparations of okra, such as frying or sauteeing, release less mucilage than long ones, such as stewing.
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Not so Wolverhampton Wanderers or West Ham United, who really are stewing in their own juices.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
After two-plus days of stewing over the no-show against the Rockets, including a team meeting on Saturday and a rare Sunday morning shootaround, the Lakers found themselves in the second quarter, with Doncic scoring 15 of his 24 first-half points in the period for a 68-53 halftime lead.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Add the stewing beef and cook until the meat is no longer pink, stirring frequently.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stewing
Verb
-
Quinn got that blood boiling on a chilly Monday, powering a two-run homer over the left-center fence to spark the host Mustangs to a 9-4 nonconference win in a game that was moved to Chicago because of wet conditions at Oak Forest.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Blanch the corn by boiling it for one minute, then submerge it in ice water.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That's where Somali businesses struggled due to customers worrying that ICE might arrest them while shopping.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Colleagues had been worrying about Metayer Bowen all day long.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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There’s a fine, touching performance, however, from Showko Showfukutei as Hana’s loving but fretful mother, desperately concerned for her daughter’s well-being but inclined to show love only through unrequired domestic service.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
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The quintessential late-’80s teen, Ryder here plays a fretful mom.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This quicker version relies on cherry tomatoes for a ready-in-a-flash sauce that doesn't require a lot of simmering or waiting.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Some also favor turning down the heat and simmering eggs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Distracted ends with Bruner fretting over money and pondering options.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps one, or all, of her kids, fretting over their independent-minded mother, had advised her to get it.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Now he’s got an Olivier for it — and so do John Lithgow, swaying ominously in the breeze as the vexed figure of the title, and Eliot Levey, playing Dahl’s British publisher, Tom Maschler.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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Freezing the landscape in time is what the people of Vermont, and not merely tourists, want, but it’s also left residents with a vexed regard for visitors.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stewing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stewing. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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