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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Coen himself fretted a little over some of the script’s more outrageous moments.
—Luna Adler, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
Shalett’s critique came squarely in the middle of some people in the AI field — and many financial commentators around Wall Street —fretting at market exuberance and beginning to talk openly about a bubble.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
If these picks aren’t your style, don’t fret.
—Julia Fields, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
Physicians and engineers alike fretted about the high stakes if a system malfunctioned.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Coen himself fretted a little over some of the script’s more outrageous moments.
—Luna Adler, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
Shalett’s critique came squarely in the middle of some people in the AI field — and many financial commentators around Wall Street —fretting at market exuberance and beginning to talk openly about a bubble.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
If these picks aren’t your style, don’t fret.
—Julia Fields, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
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Attendees were given 3 minutes to speak, same as in the commissioners court, and primarily spoke about jail deaths and the freedom of speech being eroded.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Even as streaming has eroded the ranks of linear viewers in primetime, sports has built new bulwarks.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That’s the estimate for Coppola’s unique watch, which the Godfather director wore at the Cannes premiere of Megalopolis.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Crews wear thermal base layers, overalls, and analog spacesuits when working outdoors.—
Rosanna Philpott,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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More broadly, the NBA has expressed concern about prop bets, while other sports leagues have worried about the potential for manipulation.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
After Trump spoke to Lurie, local leaders and advocates worried that Trump would shift his attention from San Francisco, which at one point hosted more billionaires than any other city, to less powerful and more diverse enclaves like Oakland and Alameda.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The formula was comfortable and didn’t irritate my skin or leave any residue.—
Essence,
Essence,
28 Oct. 2025
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The lord didn’t much care for that, which of course only made Heinzelmann want to irritate him further.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Postpartum anxiety is excessive worrying or panic that happens after having or adopting a baby, according to the Cleveland Clinic.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
28 Oct. 2025
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Others pushed back in the opposite direction, insisting our constant state of panic is unsustainable.—
Marc Brackett,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This could make eating more enjoyable, leading to eating more.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
26 Oct. 2025
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The video showed dozens of videos and pictures sent to her, all featuring people eating McDonald's fries as a show of solidarity.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This particular aspect of the show frays the gripping tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Over time, the relationship frayed.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Additionally, acrylic and fiberglass are not as durable as cast iron and can scratch more easily.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
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And that’s just scratching the surface.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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