as in worry
disapproving
worried talk or behavior
There has been a lot of silly hand-wringing over the latest hike in interest rates.
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Recent Examples of hand-wringing
Huang’s unapologetic stance on AI is bracing in its way, especially in contrast with the public hand-wringing of many AI chieftains, fretting about the dangers of their LLMs while continuing to develop them.
—
James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
The latest round of hand-wringing on AI was set off last week when Alibaba’s co-founder said the rush to erect new facilities is getting ahead of demand for AI services.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Ironically, the film is tracking rather nicely for a March release despite all the hand-wringing and hubbub, with Snow White likely debuting at $50 million to $56 million domestically, according to a leading tracking service.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
There's obviously been a lot of hand-wringing over how Democrats treated the State of the Union address.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025
When it was published a few years ago in The Believer, the essay prompted much hand-wringing about AI and creativity, separating the collaborationists from the resistance.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
Throw in concerns about youth crime, and the hand-wringing becomes positively deafening.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
There was the usual hand-wringing about a lack of commercially minded movies on the slate, and a dearth of big sales.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
With as much hand-wringing as today’s style of play gets from the masses, games then were often low-scoring and dependent on isolation ball.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
The latest round of hand-wringing on AI was set off last week when Alibaba’s co-founder said the rush to erect new facilities is getting ahead of demand for AI services.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Ironically, the film is tracking rather nicely for a March release despite all the hand-wringing and hubbub, with Snow White likely debuting at $50 million to $56 million domestically, according to a leading tracking service.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
There's obviously been a lot of hand-wringing over how Democrats treated the State of the Union address.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025
When it was published a few years ago in The Believer, the essay prompted much hand-wringing about AI and creativity, separating the collaborationists from the resistance.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
Throw in concerns about youth crime, and the hand-wringing becomes positively deafening.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
There was the usual hand-wringing about a lack of commercially minded movies on the slate, and a dearth of big sales.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
With as much hand-wringing as today’s style of play gets from the masses, games then were often low-scoring and dependent on isolation ball.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-wringing
Noun
-
Bits and pieces to friends, tender moments and worries to others.—
Kristina Goetz,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2025
-
This is important because lower yields can help the economy and are the typical bond reaction during worries about economic growth.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The arrests came after town halls across the country have become heated, as constituents from both parties expressed concern over President Donald Trump's swift and far-reaching staffing cuts.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
There is also concern that not all borrowers know their rights or the options available to help them.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Consumer sentiment fell sharply in April, marking the fourth consecutive month of declines, as an intensifying trade war fueled anxiety over American jobs and rising inflation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
For the next year, Munn battled postpartum anxiety.—
Danielle Pergament,
SELF,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Trump faces growing pushback from his own party The markets were still in a panic on Monday when an unverified report circulated that the president was considering a 90-day pause on the tariffs.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Two more came in July of 2002, when panic over corporate fraud set-off by Enron’s collapse the year before, finally eased.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But Season 2, by leaning so far into its characters’ anguish, has become more circular and suffocating in its storytelling.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Coogler attempts to out-scare Jordan Peele’s Get Out, using horror tropes to match the anguish expressed by the blues.—
Armond White,
National Review,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Hayes said he’s had to take a leave of absence from his job over the fear of what might happen to his family.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025
-
In that case, sour consumer sentiment also served as a major source of fear.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Despite escalating trade tensions and market turbulence since Trump took office in January, the economy remains in solid shape by several key measures.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Taylor compared the tension producers navigate to that of the lawyers in the room.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Too many business owners negotiate from a place of desperation.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The Browns or the Giants may feel the itch of desperation and draft Sanders in the top three.—
Derrik Klassen,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hand-wringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-wringing. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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