fretting 1 of 2

fretting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fret
1
2
3
4
as in irritating
to make sore by continued rubbing the stiff, starchy collar was fretting my neck, and I couldn't wait to change out of that costume

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretting
Adjective
  • Her father, a renowned music educator as well as a composer and conductor, was a conspicuous voice urging fretful Americans not to dismiss the music but to listen to what the songs had to say.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Nov. 2024
  • There’s naïve Jill (Nicola Turner and then, in adulthood, Helena Wilson), excitable Ruby (Sophia Ally and Ophelia Lovibond), and fretful Gloria (Nancy Allsop and Leanne Best); and then—played by Lara McDonnell as a teen and by Donnelly in a pointed piece of double-casting as an adult—there’s Joan.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • Illiquidity is another key drawback, particularly in cask investments, as funds are tied up for years during maturation, with additional costs for storage, insurance and bottling eroding potential returns.
    Anthony Zhang, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Disputes, manufacturing delays, and eroding market trust have eclipsed the company's heritage over decades of greatness.
    Jim Osman, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Is there a health problem that's worrying you?
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Is there a nutrition concern that's worrying you?
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Humans must remain in the loop, and treating human interaction like a premium service is a quick route to irritating many customers.
    Todd Fisher, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • This 2023 Best of Beauty winner contains a retinol alternative duo that firms and smoothes the look of fine lines and wrinkles without irritating the skin or being to harsh.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 30 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Artist agents find their roles less vexed, embracing a new value system that hews closer to the way the market actually operates.
    Natasha Degen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Measuring innovation is one of the most vexed problems that a corporation faces.
    Andrew Binns, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • An image shared on social media by the Pennsylvania State Police showed Mangione, his blue mask dangling from his ear, eating what appeared to be a hash brown.
    John Miller, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
  • On the flip side, neglecting physical health—like skipping exercise or eating poorly—can cloud your mind and leave you feeling emotionally drained.
    Cindy Chia, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • And cheaper polo belts are stitched with shorter pieces of thread which will unravel over time, creating a fraying effect—but the best quality belts are stitched from longer pieces of thread which won’t unravel.
    Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Now imagine the fingers are fraying at the tips, like old rope, and that your arm is disconcertingly thin.
    Blake Nelson, The Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • And that's just scratching the surface.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
  • To his credit, Richardson owned his mistake after scratching Hall without first talking to the veteran.
    Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 6 Dec. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Cite this Entry

“Fretting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretting. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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