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
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
Throw in concerns about youth crime, and the hand-wringing becomes positively deafening.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
There was the usual hand-wringing about a lack of commercially minded movies on the slate, and a dearth of big sales.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
With as much hand-wringing as today’s style of play gets from the masses, games then were often low-scoring and dependent on isolation ball.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
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
Throw in concerns about youth crime, and the hand-wringing becomes positively deafening.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
There was the usual hand-wringing about a lack of commercially minded movies on the slate, and a dearth of big sales.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
With as much hand-wringing as today’s style of play gets from the masses, games then were often low-scoring and dependent on isolation ball.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing
Noun
-
Not Enough People Are Watching ‘NYT Mini’ Clues And Answers For Saturday, April 26 New Google Leak Reveals Subscription Changes For Gemini AI There is no shortage of worries for European auto manufacturers.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
These worries lead people to make a series of decisions to delay having children, with hopes of having them in the future.—
Lisa Hagen,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The arrests came after town halls across the country have become heated, as constituents from both parties expressed concern over President Donald Trump's swift and far-reaching staffing cuts.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Chris Newman, a lawyer representing the deportee, added that his primary concern was Abrego Garcia's access to counsel.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Trump's remarks came as he's started to soften his tone with China regarding tariffs, which have rattled the global markets and stoked anxieties about the economy.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Hiking in nature has also been shown to reduce anxiety and depression.—
Ashley J. DiMella Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Residents rushed out of homes and buildings in panic, the Associated Press reported.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
-
The auto industry, which uses about 20% of the world’s carbon fiber, went into a panic at the proposal (and the short lead times the 2029 ban would have given them).—
Michael Taylor,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But Season 2, by leaning so far into its characters’ anguish, has become more circular and suffocating in its storytelling.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Coogler attempts to out-scare Jordan Peele’s Get Out, using horror tropes to match the anguish expressed by the blues.—
Armond White,
National Review,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Creating a culture of fear by persecuting unpopular individuals and groups?—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Orr’s study also found that even as silence about climate change can spiral into deeper fears of speaking out, speaking about the issue can drive a spiral toward further discussion and action — and that individual conversations can play a surprisingly large role.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Ryan McFarland, Founder & CEO of Strider Bikes. Consumer goods brands feel a constant tension: the push for short-term sales vs. the pull of long-term brand value.—
Ryan McFarland,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Meanwhile, tensions with China have intensified, with tariffs now soaring as high as 145 percent on select goods.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Too many business owners negotiate from a place of desperation.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The Browns or the Giants may feel the itch of desperation and draft Sanders in the top three.—
Derrik Klassen,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-wringing. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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