as in fretting
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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
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
There is nothing this pot can’t do—braising, baking, stewing, frying.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
It’s been more than a week and people are still stewing about it.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Right now, Combs is still stewing in the MDC, but he is expected to be moved to a cushier and more low security facility in the NYC area in the near future.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
The sauce, a velvety broth, is a mixture of natural juices and stewing ingredients, sometimes thickened with flour.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
There is nothing this pot can’t do—braising, baking, stewing, frying.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
It’s been more than a week and people are still stewing about it.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025
Right now, Combs is still stewing in the MDC, but he is expected to be moved to a cushier and more low security facility in the NYC area in the near future.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
The sauce, a velvety broth, is a mixture of natural juices and stewing ingredients, sometimes thickened with flour.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stewing
Verb
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Aim for just before boiling (195 to 205°F) for French press coffee.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Therefore, boiling potassium-rich foods may reduce their nutrient content.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
5 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
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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
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
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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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While the cookies are baking, melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water over low heat, stirring until smooth.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Both nations are among the tournament's top contenders, which made the last few practices stateside simmering with subterfuge.—
Ren Clayton,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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Maybe fretting over fading attention spans is a self-fulfilling prophecy.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Stewing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stewing. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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