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



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Word of the Day

6 June 2025

PUNGENCY

(noun) wit having a sharp and caustic quality; “he commented with typical pungency”; “the bite of satire”


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