1
as in to erode
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wear
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to worry
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in panic
a state of nervous or irritated concern
one of my customers always gets into a fret if I'm so much as 15 minutes late delivering his newspaper
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fret
Tobias Burns, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Traders are all-in on AI, but Americans are fretting over its impact on jobs.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 24 May 2026
Mary Emerson, the Westbrook School Department's school nutrition director, said the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program has enabled her to serve fish to students without having to fret over the cost or how to source it.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 May 2026
Need not fret, dear reader, that body of work is still coming.
—Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
Multiple Wall Street firms fretted about the company's long-term growth prospects in the face of AI.
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Traders are all-in on AI, but Americans are fretting over its impact on jobs.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 24 May 2026
Mary Emerson, the Westbrook School Department's school nutrition director, said the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program has enabled her to serve fish to students without having to fret over the cost or how to source it.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 May 2026
Need not fret, dear reader, that body of work is still coming.
—Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
-
This behavior, often rewarded by leaders mistaking confidence for judgment, erodes psychological safety.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Frequent leadership changes have disrupted policy continuity, weakened executive authority, and eroded public trust in democratic institutions.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Mark, on a skateboard, and Jacob, also wearing inline skates, followed a little more than an arm’s length behind.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
-
There’s a similar amount of personality within Hadspen House, where a Roman bust wears a necklace of seashells and a snug room is decorated in the colors of the croquet set outside on the lawn.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Anxiety remained high among the school’s teachers and social workers, who worried about sending students away for the break.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
My life was in all regards unclouded, sans care or worry.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
It is expected that Mourinho will try to tighten control over leaks concerning internal dressing-room matters, something that has irritated the club this season — and which Alonso sought to tackle.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Key Points Cayenne pepper can deter squirrels by irritating their senses without causing harm.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The onboard camera, sending video back to the remote pilot in real time, captures his panic.—
David L. Stern,
Washington Post,
31 May 2026
-
In the years following, Beijing funded or armed fellow communists in Vietnam, North Korea, Burma, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia, causing panic in Washington and other Western capitals as the ideological struggles of the Cold War rippled across Asia.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Houser grinded through a pair of long innings that ate into his pitch count, throwing 37 pitches in the first inning and 27 more pitches in the third inning.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 May 2026
-
Cats become infected by eating raw meat, birds, mice or contaminated soil, and only cats that are actively shedding parasites in their stool can spread it.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Getting between destinations, however, consumes time and can fray nerves.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Repairing the country’s fraying social ties will be a challenge.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Johnson, the second batter of the frame, hit a long fly ball to right field that kept carrying and scratched the wall as Jarrod Hocking attempted to rob it.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
-
Each spatula has a grippy handle and is made of flexible silicone that resists high cooking temperatures and won’t scratch bowls or bakeware.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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