fretful

American  

[fret-fuhl] / ˈfrɛt fəl /

Also fretsome

adjective

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

   Synonyms:

   testy, impatient, querulous, petulant

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fretful British  

/ ˈfrɛtfʊl /

adjective

1. peevish, irritable, or upset

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of fretful

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

Explanation

Someone who's fretful can't relax. You might be fretful — upset and fidgety — if you're waiting to hear whether or not you've been accepted into a competitive summer music program. You may be fretful because you're worried about a friend, you're waiting for news, you're incredibly irritated with your little brother, or simply because you're an anxious and restless person. The word at the heart of fretful is fret, a verb meaning "worry" which is rooted in the Old English fretan, "to eat or devour." From this, fret grew to mean "being eaten away by worry."

Example Sentences

The outrageous antics revolving around the experiences of fretful teen prodigy Malcolm were always anchored by his family’s tight bond.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

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

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2025

Hoover and his aides became progressively more fretful about the settlement at Anacostia Flats, especially when its organizers began to talk about making it permanent.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2024

Communication failures ensue, as do the progressively more fretful faces and soundtrack music.

From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2024

He could see that both Daniel and Patricia were exhausted, and thought Dan seemed particularly fretful.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin