Meaning & use
fretful
Easily upset or worried, and inclined to complain or show irritation over small things.
See it in a sentence
The fretful baby wouldn't settle down until his mother started humming softly.
She grew fretful the night before her exam, unable to sleep.
A note on using this word
Fretful often describes babies, children, or someone temporarily anxious, rather than a lasting personality trait.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fretful”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.