fretful

Also fret·some

[fret-fuhl]

adjective

1. disposed or quick to fret; irritable or peevish.

   Synonyms: testy, impatient, querulous, petulant

fretful

/ ˈfrɛtfʊl /

adjective

1. peevish, irritable, or upset

Other Word Forms

• fretfully adverb
• fretfulness noun
• unfretful adjective
• unfretfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fretful¹

First recorded in 1585–95; fret ¹ + -ful

Example Sentences

In a twitch, a head tilt or a whine, Indy communicates his emotions: curious, lonely, contented, confused, fretful, desperate or petrified.

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But there is no doubting this is a fretful moment, adversaries and conflicts around the world, deep seated problems at home.

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With their heavy eyebrows and square jaws, they look like a fretful phalanx of Martin Scorseses reluctantly conceding that the movie is pretty fun.

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Beyond that, he was shut down by fretful Democratic party operatives and politicians who told him: How can you talk about “Bidenomics” when polls say so many people aren’t “feeling the benefits”?!

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As Queenie, navigating empty relationships and professional disappointments on a journey from self-sabotage to self-worth, Brown makes a whole person from a variety of attitudes — hopeful, hopeless, hungover, exuberant, fretful, thoughtful.

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