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
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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
Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
However, not to fret, because the couple would be spending New Year's together at the Middletons—or so Kate thought.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
If there’s a cloud over your daily routine, don’t fret, Cancer.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Just the same, the broader arc of the season hints at reasons to fret about another wild pendulum swing under Gates.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
Recent college grads in particular felt the pinch, and economic policymakers fretted about slowing labor growth.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
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Cultural, linguistic, and value-based assimilation challenges arise, potentially altering national identities and eroding civilizational confidence.—
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And policies that erode IP rights will ultimately slow the pace of innovation — and the prosperity that comes with it.—
Verb
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Meyer, meanwhile, wore a white graphic tee with black mini shorts and a Thom Browne top coat, W reported.—
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He was last seen wearing a red and black plaid shirt, dark jeans and brown steel-toe boots, police said.—
Verb
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Punk music and its spirit clearly worried the Soviet rulers.—
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For voters worried about health-insurance coverage or the future of research in the United States, scientists, health-care workers, and public-health experts may have particular appeal right now, Shields told me.—
Verb
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These changes to the fabric’s texture can also irritate delicate skin.—
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To ensure the materials were safe for biological use, the friction layers was tested on a rabbit’s eye, where the device maintained its charge without irritating.—
Noun
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Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames spread rapidly through the basement level before engulfing the upper floor.—
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Kaitlin spent the first weeks of her newborn son’s life in a panic.—
Verb
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During the week, Aluko had described lying in bed at the height of the controversy, depressed and unable to eat.—
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While about 10% of adults worldwide report bloating, fatigue or gut pain after eating foods containing gluten, only 16% to 30% of those cases show true gluten-specific reactions, the paper found.—
Verb
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The pants feature slightly frayed, cuffed hems with an inseam that’s suitable for shorter frames, plus they’re made from stretchy denim for all-day comfort.—
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The other is a longtime crime family who has ruled the South Side for generations, but is now fraying.—
Verb
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If large stuck-on food chunks remain, carefully scrape them off with a razor blade, being mindful not to scratch the stovetop.—
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Bright and spellbinding, glittering and dangerous, London Falling scratches every itch while unwinding this morbid mystery.—
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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