fretted

American

[fret-id] / ˈfrɛt ɪd /

adjective

ornamented or provided with frets.

a fretted molding.

fretted British

/ ˈfrɛtɪd /

adjective

ornamented with angular designs or frets
decorated with fretwork

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

unfretted adjective

Etymology

Origin of fretted

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at fret ², -ed ²

Vocabulary lists containing fretted

"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 2

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For years, he had fretted over whether she would ever be ready.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

And many, in a district in which more than 86% of students are low-income, fretted about feeding their kids.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Scotts’ stock had suffered a month-to-date drop of 14.9% as of March 12 as investors fretted over rising commodities costs.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Before the war, analysts had fretted about an LNG glut forming by 2027, and sending prices lower.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

The sea, confined, was restless and fretted at the steep shores.

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023