FRETFUL

fretful, querulous, whiney, whiny

(adjective) habitually complaining; “a whiny child”

antsy, fidgety, fretful, itchy

(adjective) nervous and unable to relax; “a constant fretful stamping of hooves”; “a restless child”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

fretful (comparative more fretful, superlative most fretful)

Irritable, bad-tempered, grumpy or peevish.

Unable to relax; fidgety or restless.

Anagrams

• truffle

Source: Wiktionary


Fret"ful, a. Etym: [See 2d Fret.]

Definition: Disposed to fret; ill-humored; peevish; angry; in a state of vexation; as, a fretful temper.

– Fret"ful-ly, adv.

– Fret"ful-ness, n.

Syn.

– Peevish; ill-humored; ill-natured; irritable; waspish; captious; petulant; splenetic; spleeny; passionate; angry.

– Fretful, Peevish, Cross. These words all indicate an unamiable working and expression of temper. Peevish marks more especially the inward spirit: a peevish man is always ready to find fault. Fretful points rather to the outward act, and marks a complaining impatience: sickly children are apt to be fretful. Crossness is peevishness mingled with vexation or anger.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

11 May 2025

MALLET

(noun) a light drumstick with a rounded head that is used to strike such percussion instruments as chimes, kettledrums, marimbas, glockenspiels, etc.


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.

coffee icon