FRET Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

fret 1 of 2

verb

ˈfret

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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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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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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as in to irritate

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

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fret

2 of 2

noun

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

Verb

But even as older viewers and opponents of the merger fret about corporate consolidation and its problematic effects on viewers, millions of Americans have already moved on to other forms of media. —

John Wenzel, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026 But while that could eat into Ocrevus’ sales, investors in Biogen shouldn’t fret, according to Piper Sandler. —

Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026 Increasingly, teachers and schools fretting over students using artificial intelligence to complete their assignments are turning to AI detectors to catch would-be cheaters. —

Nathan Agranovsky, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2026 And many, in a district in which more than 86% of students are low-income, fretted about feeding their kids. —

Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fret

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fret

Verb

In the process, however, one of the big distinguishing aspects of TV – the large audiences who once assembled to watch dramas, sitcoms and reality shows – has eroded.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
The Florida Mobile Home Act offers little real protection against excessive rent hikes or misleading practices that erode homeowners’ equity and quality of life.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026