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handwringing

or hand-wring·ing, hand wring·ing

[ hand-ring-ing ]

/ ˈhændˌrɪŋ ɪŋ /

noun

a physical expression of concern, distress, or guilt.

the nervous grasping or squeezing of the hands as a sign of these feelings.

OTHER WORDS FROM handwringing

hand·wring·er, noun

Words nearby handwringing

handwarmer, handweaving, handwheel, handwork, handwoven, handwringing, handwrite, handwriting, handwriting on the wall, handwritten, handwrought

Example sentences from the Web for hand-wringing

It would be welcome relief from letting Republican hand-wringing ambivalence drive the immigration debate.

Obama Could Legally Stop Immigrant Deportations |Sally Kohn |February 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Apparently, despite all the hand-wringing, it still pays to make things in America.

U.S. Car Sales Roar in August |William O’Connor |September 4, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Leftists have done a lot of hand-wringing in recent days, decrying the emergence of an all-powerful rightist coalition.

What Will Israel's Government Look Like? |Brent E. Sasley |January 22, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
My initial reaction to this sort of hand-wringing is that it is disingenuous.

Daily Beast Debate: Should the Media Leave Grieving Newtown Alone? |The Daily Beast |December 20, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

And so now the hand-wringing, second-guessing, and soul-searching begins.

GOP Rank and File May Block Leaders’ Plans to Win Latinos With Reform |Laura Colarusso |November 12, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Then after a lot of song-singing and hand-wringing we all went home, tears in every eye and smiles on every mouth.

Colonel Crockett's Co-operative Christmas |Rupert Hughes
And how he puts up with that hand-wringing ready-to-cry wife!

The Vanishing of Betty Varian |Carolyn Wells
The former was in a helpless state of tears and hand-wringing.

Simon the Jester |William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for hand-wringing

hand-wringing

noun

informal an extended debate over the correct course of action in a situation