as in fretting
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Dissimilar Words
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
CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
The tomatoes for the shakshouka have been stewing for hours.
—Liam Scott, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2026
But South Carolina’s returners have spent a year stewing on that championship loss, specifically on UConn’s 23-point margin of victory.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Hughes spent weeks stewing before calling director Howie Deutsch with the solution.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
However, Nicky has spent this time stewing over their relationship as well and ultimately refuses to marry Rachel at the altar.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
After nine episodes spent stewing in suspicion, the CBS legal drama has released the tension from one of its biggest secrets and forced Julian into action.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
The Detroit Red Wings sat on the bench, stewing in stunned silence, after their latest loss sealed their fate as a franchise relegated to watching the NHL playoffs on TV.
—CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
The tomatoes for the shakshouka have been stewing for hours.
—Liam Scott, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2026
But South Carolina’s returners have spent a year stewing on that championship loss, specifically on UConn’s 23-point margin of victory.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Hughes spent weeks stewing before calling director Howie Deutsch with the solution.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
However, Nicky has spent this time stewing over their relationship as well and ultimately refuses to marry Rachel at the altar.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
After nine episodes spent stewing in suspicion, the CBS legal drama has released the tension from one of its biggest secrets and forced Julian into action.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stewing
Verb
-
Several hours ahead or two days ahead, plunge beans into 3 to 4 quarts of rapidly boiling water.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
-
In one experiment, a variable-density system allowed the robot to temporarily inflate and change buoyancy using vaporization of a low-boiling liquid.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The economy is struggling, people are frustrated about internet disruptions and frequent Ukrainian attacks against targets deep inside the country are worrying some people.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
But that hasn’t stopped out-of-state reenactors from worrying their muskets will be confiscated at the George Washington Bridge, says Justin Costantino, adjutant of the Long Island Companies of the 3rd New York Regiment.—
Allen G. Breed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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
-
The allegations are the latest manifestation of the simmering tension between workers and employers, and even franchisees and licensees, over automation and productivity across jobs.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
-
For the first time, Reina Sofía Museum director Manuel Segade publicly addressed a simmering controversy over the Basque government’s request to borrow Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, reports El País.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
19 May 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
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Stewing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stewing. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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