as in fretful
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1
as in eroding
to consume or wear away gradually
over the span of thousands of years, the annual spring runoff fretted the rock, forming a deep channel
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2
as in wearing
to damage or diminish by continued friction
don't let the girth fret the horse's belly or you won't be able to ride him
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3
as in worrying
to experience concern or anxiety
don't fret over whether it will be sunny tomorrow, as there's nothing we can do about it
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4
as in irritating
to make sore by continued rubbing
the stiff, starchy collar was fretting my neck, and I couldn't wait to change out of that costume
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Recent Examples of fretting
Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The tension drew the attention of Abbott’s office, which was supportive of Tips at periods but also fretting that the regulations were not coming together and state lawmakers were growing impatient, Bingaman said.
—Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
Meta employees have spent much of the year fretting about job cuts, which already hit the Reality Labs division and other teams.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Strategists who support Stevens and McMorrow said that as the state party held its convention this month, the Democratic chatter shifted from an expectation that Stevens or McMorrow would prevail to fretting that El-Sayed could win.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The accusations reordered a wide-open gubernatorial race that had Democrats fretting the party’s large number of candidates could lead to them getting shut out of the general election in November.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Increasingly, teachers and schools fretting over students using artificial intelligence to complete their assignments are turning to AI detectors to catch would-be cheaters.
—Nathan Agranovsky, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
After games, many Thunder players reside by their lockers cracking jokes and catching up instead of fretting over roles and playing time.
—Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The tension drew the attention of Abbott’s office, which was supportive of Tips at periods but also fretting that the regulations were not coming together and state lawmakers were growing impatient, Bingaman said.
—Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
Meta employees have spent much of the year fretting about job cuts, which already hit the Reality Labs division and other teams.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Strategists who support Stevens and McMorrow said that as the state party held its convention this month, the Democratic chatter shifted from an expectation that Stevens or McMorrow would prevail to fretting that El-Sayed could win.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The accusations reordered a wide-open gubernatorial race that had Democrats fretting the party’s large number of candidates could lead to them getting shut out of the general election in November.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Increasingly, teachers and schools fretting over students using artificial intelligence to complete their assignments are turning to AI detectors to catch would-be cheaters.
—Nathan Agranovsky, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretting
Adjective
-
Julia Louis-Dreyfus provides the voice of Miss Maple, renamed Lily and far more fretful and fearful than in the book.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
The outrageous antics revolving around the experiences of fretful teen prodigy Malcolm were always anchored by his family’s tight bond.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Psychological safety — which 83% of executives in the MIT Technology Review survey identified as measurably improving AI initiative outcomes — is eroding inside those same initiatives.—
Julie Averill,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
More broadly, the NFL is eroding the scarcity that helped turn the sport into America’s dominant television property.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
On her lunch break, mama walks us over to the library still wearing her scrubs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Laneda taught Sunday school, and her sons were Cornerstone ushers, wearing white gloves and delivering a welcome address to visitors at the start of Sunday services.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Instead of worrying about parking lots, navigating traffic detours, or designating a driver, passengers can simply board the train and enjoy the ride alongside other fans headed to the same destination.—
JP Shaffer,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2026
-
Make your time your priority instead of wasting time worrying about what other individuals are doing or thinking.—
Jann E. Freed,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Plus, having a doctor know what to supervise and adjust for irritation is an important part of getting adjusted to the sometimes-irritating ingredient.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
22 May 2026
-
This is, at the very least, irritating.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 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
Verb
-
Everyone is eating tostadas and trying dishes off the menu that changes every week, showcasing Giuseppe Lacorazza's market-focused, simple soulful cooking.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
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Misael eating meat alone, cutting up pieces with an enormous knife while barely lit by the flames in front of him, and, sporadically, almost-silent lightning bursts in the distant background.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Cracks in the casing, a stiff or fraying cord, or discoloration around outlets mean that your power strip is failing.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
16 May 2026
-
The dobby border reinforces vulnerable areas, helping prevent fraying and stretching over time.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fretting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretting. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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