as in fretful
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in eroding
to consume or wear away gradually
over the span of thousands of years, the annual spring runoff fretted the rock, forming a deep channel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wearing
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 worrying
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
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretting
Adjective
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At the very least, Washington sought to assure the fretful Parsons that all was not yet lost.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Feb. 2025 -
Too many young people are anxious, fretful and socially isolated.—
Sarah Lent,
Forbes,
21 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The traditional barriers surrounding proprietary AI are eroding, ushering in a new era of innovation that will redefine the global AI race.—
Vandana Rana,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Gerrymandering reduces electoral competition, entrenches incumbents, and marginalizes whole communities, ultimately eroding public trust in democracy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Overweight and obesity need to be treated safely and effectively to avoid that worrying forecast.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Dec. 2024
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Bitcoin has dropping back from its all-time high of over $100,000 in the last week as BlackRock quietly confirmed a worrying bitcoin bombshell.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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When handled, these treefrogs secrete a sticky toxin as a defense, which can be irritating to mucous membranes of people or pets who make contact with them.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2025
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All three ingredients offer significant benefits for skin brightening and skin texture, but also tend to be irritating to people with sensitive skin.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Though a seven shot gap to leader Spaun is more than closable for a mercurial talent chasing an unprecedented third consecutive Players crown, Scheffler – typically unflappable – looked uncharacteristically vexed after issues with the strong winds and putting.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN,
15 Mar. 2025
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More broadly, Cairo seeks to redeem the vexed legacy of Camp David.—
Lisa Anderson,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The team looks to address that in the first round here, selecting space-eating defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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The ketogenic diet – an eating plan that emphasizes fat and protein over carbs – has certainly had its fair share of pluses and minuses added to its balance sheet over the years.—
Michael Franco,
New Atlas,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Their sense of social well-being is fraying at an alarming rate.—
Gillian Oakenfull,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Perspective, of course, is sometimes no match for the cold math of an underwhelming win streak or a locker room with fraying edges.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But that’s just scratching the surface – addressing only the symptoms of the underlying challenges and only addressing them at the end of the SDLC process.—
Jeremy Vaughan,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
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Similar to a sheet pan, whole meals can be built in a Dutch oven, scratching that same itch for convenience and less clean up.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
23 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Fretting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretting. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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