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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fretting
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Maybe fretting over fading attention spans is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
Many pro-Trump TV shows, podcasters and commentators are defaulting to a defense of law enforcement — but fretting about how the wider public is reacting to the violent imagery from Minnesota.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
But workers should adjust their expectations and recognize that some companies aren’t fretting about whether or not their employees can adapt to AI.
—Kevin Oakes, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Songwriters expressing pangs of grief for what once was held court with others fretting about undesirable futures and still others dreaming up cooler tomorrows.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
The economy is more fragile than seven years ago, with many Americans fretting about inflation and job prospects.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Meta and others are engaged in an accelerating AI arms race that has some economists and investors fretting about a possible bubble and seeking reassurance that revenue growth can sustain the massive spending required.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
This doesn’t sound like a strategy session by a party fretting about the state of play.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
China will be fretting over freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who fell short of gold at the Beijing Games four years ago.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Maybe fretting over fading attention spans is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
Many pro-Trump TV shows, podcasters and commentators are defaulting to a defense of law enforcement — but fretting about how the wider public is reacting to the violent imagery from Minnesota.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
But workers should adjust their expectations and recognize that some companies aren’t fretting about whether or not their employees can adapt to AI.
—Kevin Oakes, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Songwriters expressing pangs of grief for what once was held court with others fretting about undesirable futures and still others dreaming up cooler tomorrows.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
The economy is more fragile than seven years ago, with many Americans fretting about inflation and job prospects.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Meta and others are engaged in an accelerating AI arms race that has some economists and investors fretting about a possible bubble and seeking reassurance that revenue growth can sustain the massive spending required.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
This doesn’t sound like a strategy session by a party fretting about the state of play.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretting
Adjective
-
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
-
The quintessential late-’80s teen, Ryder here plays a fretful mom.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This has caused widespread confusion for voters and staff alike, disrupting service delivery and eroding the relationship between constituents and their representatives.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The continent’s eroding religious traditions and cultural loyalties, and its surging population of Muslim migrants, are a constant and gloomy obsession in Dreher’s posts.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Moments later, Carthen struts into the frame wearing a Patriot's jersey corset, an enormous fur stole, and knee-high Timberland stilettos.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2026
-
For part of his sentence, he was allowed out to work with the Norwegian Football Federation coaching young players, while wearing an ankle tag.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But then over here, rumblings about the future of the company and people worrying what does this mean not only for themselves but for the prospects of Rolling Stone, which is a life mantra and mission that people came from all over the world to be a part of.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Boaters who call North Point Marina their homeport during the boating season can stop worrying over where to moor their vessels.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
A lot of anti-aging skincare contains ingredients like retinol that can be drying and irritating, but Cetaphil has a possible solution.—
Lauren Taylor,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Cold outdoor air plus active heat indoors can pull moisture from both the scalp and hair shaft, which can be irritating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Brooding in the historical background are the plantations, the vexed issue of where the money comes from that underwrites all this charm, these impeccable manners, this unsteady gaiety.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Hunters and birdwatchers are advised to wear gloves when handling birds or feeders, to wash hands thoroughly after any contact, and to not eating birds that appear sick or birds that are found dead.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
It was directed by that Michael Bay, and in it, an Alexander Hamilton super-fan is eating a peanut butter sandwich when his phone rings.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On a recent walk around Manhattan, for instance, Hadid paired blue jeans with a raw, fraying hem with classic loafers, a perfect combination of hippie and preppy.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
10 Feb. 2026
-
His voting coalition is fraying, too.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fretting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretting. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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