Definition of Fretful

1. Adjective. Nervous and unable to relax. "A restless child"

Exact synonyms: Antsy, Fidgety, Itchy
Similar to: Tense
Derivative terms: Fidget, Fidgetiness

2. Adjective. Habitually complaining. "A whiny child"
Exact synonyms: Querulous, Whiney, Whiny
Similar to: Complaining, Complaintive
Derivative terms: Fretfulness, Querulousness, Whine, Whine

Definition of Fretful

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

Definition of Fretful

1. Adjective. irritable, bad-tempered, grumpy or peevish ¹

2. Adjective. unable to relax; fidgety or restless ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Fretful

1. inclined to fret [adj]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Fretful

freshwoman
freshwomen
fresnel
fresnels
fresnoite
fresolimumab
fress
fressed
fresses
fressing
fressreflex
fret
fret saw
fretboard
fretboards
fretful (current term)
fretfull
fretfully
fretfulness
fretfulnesses
fretless
fretman
fretmen
frets
fretsaw
fretsaws
fretsome
frett
fretted
fretten

Literary usage of Fretful

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Irish Literature by Justin McCarthy, Maurice Francis Egan, Douglas Hyde, Charles Welsh, Gregory, James Jeffrey Roche (1904)
"Sir fretful. But come, now, there must be something that you think might be ... Why, faith, it is but an ungracious thing for the most part to— Sir fretful. ..."

2. The Monthly Review by Ralph Griffiths (1781)
"You never did any thing beyond it, Sir fretful— never in your life. ... 4 Sir fretful. О Lord — I am fure Mr. Sneer has more talle and fin- cerity than to ..."

3. The Monthly Review by Ralph Griffiths (1781)
"You never did any thing beyond it, Sir fretful — never in your life. ... Sir fretful ; for it was but jull now that - — My friend Sneer was rallying ..."

4. Library of the World's Best Literature: Ancient and Modern by Edward Cornelius Towne (1897)
"Enter Sir fretful Dangle—Ah, my dear friend! Egad, we were just speaking of ... Sneer — You never did anything beyond it, Sir fretful,—never in your life. ..."

5. A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, Obsolete Phrases, Proverbs by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1850)
"Anglic. MS. (3) To trifle, or idle. TIMMY. Timid ; fretful. Wat. TIMOROUS. (1) Difficult to please ¡uncertain; fretful. ..."

6. Notes and Queries by Martim de Albuquerque (1873)
"Jerome Wolf (L616—1551) possessed one of those nervous and fretful temperaments which not .... fretful ..."

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