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Synonyms

fretted

American  
[fret-id] / ˈfrɛt ɪd /

adjective

  1. ornamented or provided with frets.

    a fretted molding.
fretted British  
/ ˈfrɛtɪd /

adjective

  1. ornamented with angular designs or frets

  2. 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.

When Sam Altman was briefly fired, then rehired as OpenAI CEO in 2023, the company’s board of directors had fretted over what little they knew about his personal investments and whether they posed potential conflicts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

She said district communication had been sparse so far — “no call, no text, no email” — and fretted about missing work at Sweetgreen, the fast-casual chain restaurant where she makes salads.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Investors fretted the rise of AI agents would dampen demand for offerings from legacy software providers.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 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

The Howards fretted; Riddle looked small and old; Kurtsinger had the inward-focused look of someone at prayer.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.