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
There were more defections, more hand-wringing calculations.
—
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025
But the weekend gathering wasn’t all hand-wringing and liquid refreshment.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
Despite one spectacular, pulse-pounding aerial sequence that will take your breath away near the finale, and a brilliant, hand-wringing scene underwater in a sunken submarine, the eighth and perhaps final entry in a franchise that has provided a bounty of escapist thrills is a shrug of a movie.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 May 2025
Huang’s unapologetic stance on AI is bracing in its way, especially in contrast with the public hand-wringing of many AI chieftains, fretting about the dangers of their LLMs while continuing to develop them.
—James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
The latest round of hand-wringing on AI was set off last week when Alibaba’s co-founder said the rush to erect new facilities is getting ahead of demand for AI services.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Ironically, the film is tracking rather nicely for a March release despite all the hand-wringing and hubbub, with Snow White likely debuting at $50 million to $56 million domestically, according to a leading tracking service.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
There's obviously been a lot of hand-wringing over how Democrats treated the State of the Union address.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025
When it was published a few years ago in The Believer, the essay prompted much hand-wringing about AI and creativity, separating the collaborationists from the resistance.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025
But the weekend gathering wasn’t all hand-wringing and liquid refreshment.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
Despite one spectacular, pulse-pounding aerial sequence that will take your breath away near the finale, and a brilliant, hand-wringing scene underwater in a sunken submarine, the eighth and perhaps final entry in a franchise that has provided a bounty of escapist thrills is a shrug of a movie.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 May 2025
Huang’s unapologetic stance on AI is bracing in its way, especially in contrast with the public hand-wringing of many AI chieftains, fretting about the dangers of their LLMs while continuing to develop them.
—James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
The latest round of hand-wringing on AI was set off last week when Alibaba’s co-founder said the rush to erect new facilities is getting ahead of demand for AI services.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Ironically, the film is tracking rather nicely for a March release despite all the hand-wringing and hubbub, with Snow White likely debuting at $50 million to $56 million domestically, according to a leading tracking service.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
There's obviously been a lot of hand-wringing over how Democrats treated the State of the Union address.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025
When it was published a few years ago in The Believer, the essay prompted much hand-wringing about AI and creativity, separating the collaborationists from the resistance.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing
Noun
-
Panicked finds Maron returning to familiar subjects, treating them like beloved worry dolls of comedic setups.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Some lawmakers have said worries over U.S. stockpiles running low don't justify cutting off Ukraine's weapons.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Of the eight which were understood at the time to be complaints or concerns: four were raised to both the production company and the BBC, two were raised only with the production company and two were raised only with the BBC.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
-
In seconds, content appears without shipping or physical storage concerns.—
Vikrant Shaurya,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Driving this new trend, brokers and builders agree, is a potent mix of global anxiety and cultural influence.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
29 July 2025
-
Here are seven alternative activities to try that experts say can be just as effective: Research shows that expressive art therapy, like painting, may help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, increase self-esteem, and improve mood by engaging areas of the brain that promote calm.—
Noma Nazish,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
While this may seem obvious, logic often falls apart during moments of panic.—
Amy Shoenthal,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
-
The scary moment was met by immense panic among passengers.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
27 July 2025
Noun
-
But the first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
-
Ming-Na Wen Tapped Into Deep Emotions To Play Dr. Fong In ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ While Ming-Na Wen doesn’t throw a punch in Karate Kid: Legends, that doesn’t mean her character hasn’t been in past battles, particularly those dealing with mental anguish.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Concerns of fear growing in migrant communities Mora said this issue runs deep for him and others who work in immigration law.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
23 July 2025
-
Lean Into Peer Support A mental obstacle holding leaders back is avoiding support or peer groups out of fear of sharing ideas.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Where the negotiations with the Bengals stand Talks and tensions between Hamilton County and the Bengals have escalated as both sides have traded accusations of violating the Paycor Stadium lease.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
30 July 2025
-
As Toni, Trina, Towanda, Tamar, and Ms. Evelyn continue to share their lives following Traci’s passing, tensions mount, but love remains present.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
But the obvious calculation behind this move illustrated the desperation of so many anonymous black showbiz performers (such as those who were paid to promote the Kamala Harris campaign) who eagerly demonstrate an unshakeable loyalty to the post-FDR legacy of Democratic Party devotion.—
Armond White,
National Review,
25 July 2025
-
Advertisement Still, that so many Democrats spent the weekend obsessing over a relatively unknown figure in Austin, who represents about 200,000 people in a deep-blue district, shows the extent of their desperation.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-wringing. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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