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
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
Don’t fret, though—there’s still several bottle designs up for grabs, including a couple of my favorites (one of which will be added to my cart ASAP).
—Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 11 Feb. 2025
Cops are already fretting about what the bust-up could mean for police.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 7 Feb. 2025
Don't fret about getting your clothes wet: the crew outfits everyone in rubber gloves and gaiters to stay dry (and clean!).
—Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Verb
Don’t fret — this encourages you to explore the more vulnerable, intimate side of your one-on-one connections.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
Don’t fret, though—there’s still several bottle designs up for grabs, including a couple of my favorites (one of which will be added to my cart ASAP).
—Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 11 Feb. 2025
Cops are already fretting about what the bust-up could mean for police.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 7 Feb. 2025
Don't fret about getting your clothes wet: the crew outfits everyone in rubber gloves and gaiters to stay dry (and clean!).
—Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret
Verb
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Spinrad said the cuts, especially of researchers who collect data that feeds into storm models, could erode the quality of hurricane forecasts going forward.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2025
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Despite creating jobs and potential environmental benefits, chronic mismanagement and escalating costs have eroded public trust, making continued taxpayer support irresponsible.—
Phillip Molnar,
The Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the photo obtained by the outlet, Sia — known for obscuring her face on stage and at public events with oversized wigs — wore her long blonde hair in beaded braids, her eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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The star wore her hair in a sleek braided bun with a single face-framing strand and accessorized her strappy peach Louis Vuitton gown with Chopard jewels.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Don't worry; all these dates and figures may seem complicated.—
David Rae,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
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Perhaps not surprisingly, the migration of Russians — and resulting culture clash — has fueled a backlash among many locals, who welcome the visitors but worry about losing jobs and quality of life.—
Stephanie Yang,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Also, the Cane Toad emits a toxin that irritates skin and eyes.—
Alan Clemons,
Outdoor Life,
20 Feb. 2025
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Thankfully, the blood had come from an ongoing ear infection that Roxy had irritated during her panicked state.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That’s understandably caused some panic among the fan base.—
Cory Lavalette,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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Spreading moral panic Trump is already actively deploying a key tactic in expanding mass surveillance: causing moral panics.—
Brittany Friedman,
The Conversation,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In fact, a recent survey showed that 36% of Chick-fil-A dinner customers take their meal to go from restaurants to eat at home.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
19 July 2017
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However hot dogs may have originated, the council estimates Americans will eat 7 billion of them between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.—
Don Sweeney,
sacbee,
19 July 2017
Verb
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At stake is the security and trustworthiness of the largest and most important payments system in the world, one that was already fraying around the edges even before President Trump took office.—
Felix Salmon,
Axios,
18 Feb. 2025
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The Rand Cai x Revolve Collection includes a 100 percent cotton jacket with a cropped fit, shoulder pads, a detachable hood and frayed detailing.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Ava flashes scratches on her forearm, courtesy of Isabella’s fingernails.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
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So was Kyle Connor, who was scratched on Thursday for Chris Kreider, who played a second straight game.—
Michael Russo,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fret. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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