FRETFUL: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for FRETFUL?

Need another word that means the same as “fretful”? Find 21 synonyms and 30 related words for “fretful” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Fretful” are: antsy, fidgety, itchy, querulous, whiney, whiny, distressed, upset, miserable, unsettled, uneasy, ill at ease, uncomfortable, agitated, distraught, overwrought, wrought up, worked up, tense, stressed, restive

Fretful as an Adjective

Definitions of "Fretful" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “fretful” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Feeling or expressing distress or irritation.
• Habitually complaining.
• Nervous and unable to relax.

Synonyms of "Fretful" as an adjective (21 Words)

agitated	Troubled emotionally and usually deeply. Agitated parents.
antsy	Nervous and unable to relax. Dick got antsy the day he put to sea.
distraught	Very worried and upset. He is terribly distraught.
distressed	Facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty. The distressed relatives of his victims.
fidgety	Inclined to fidget; restless or uneasy. I get nervous and fidgety at the dentist.
ill at ease	Presaging ill fortune- P.B.Shelley.
itchy	Having or causing an itch. Dry itchy skin.
miserable	Of very poor quality or condition. Horribly wet and miserable conditions.
overwrought	(of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction. She was too overwrought to listen to reason.
querulous	Habitually complaining. She became querulous and demanding.
restive	Impatient especially under restriction or delay. Both their horses became restive at once.
stressed	Strengthened by the application of stress during manufacture prestressed. Stressed concrete walls.
tense	Pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles e g the vowel sound in beat. Relations between the two neighbouring states were tense.
uncomfortable	Conducive to or feeling mental discomfort. An uncomfortable silence.
uneasy	Causing or fraught with or showing anxiety. Uneasy about his health.
unsettled	Not yet settled. A spell of unsettled weather.
upset	Mildly physically distressed. An upset stomach.
whiney	Habitually complaining.
whiny	Having a complaining tone. He speaks in a whiny childish voice.
worked up	Being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level.
wrought up	Shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort.

Usage Examples of "Fretful" as an adjective

• The baby was crying with a fretful whimper.
• A constant fretful stamping of hooves.

Associations of "Fretful" (30 Words)

anger	Fill someone with anger provoke anger in. She could barely restrain her anger at this comment.
aroused	Emotionally aroused. The aroused opposition.
cantankerous	Having a difficult and contrary disposition- Dorothy Sayers. He can be a cantankerous old fossil at times.
complaining	The expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance about something. A complaining boss.
constrained	Severely restricted in scope, extent, or activity. Many families are operating under constrained budgets.
constricted	Especially tense; especially in some dialects. A constricted blood vessel.
cranky	Bad-tempered; irritable. After a juddering landing the cranky plane eased up the runway.
crooked	Not straight; dishonest or immoral or evasive. His teeth were yellow and crooked.
defuse	Remove the triggering device from. A scheme that teaches officers how to defuse potentially explosive situations.
fractious	(of a group or organization) difficult to control; unruly. King Malcolm struggled to unite his fractious kingdom.
fret	Provide a musical instrument with frets. She fretted about the cost of groceries.
harassment	The act of tormenting by continued persistent attacks and criticism. They face daily harassment and assault on the streets.
hate	Dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards. I hate to bother you.
jittery	Being in a tense state. Caffeine makes me jittery.
nervously	In an anxiously nervous manner. Kevin nervously glanced at his watch.
nervy	Showing or requiring courage and contempt of danger. A nervy thing to say.
peevish	Easily irritated or annoyed. A thin peevish voice.
petulant	(of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered. He was moody and petulant.
querulous	Complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner. She became querulous and demanding.
regret	Express with regret. I regret I can t come to the party.
strained	Of a mainly liquid substance having been strained to separate out any solid matter. A constrained smile.
tense	Become stretched or tense or taut. Relations between the two neighbouring states were tense.
testy	Easily irritated or annoyed. She could see him growing quite testy beneath that polished urbanity.
torment	Torment emotionally or mentally. Every day I have kids tormenting me because they know I live alone.
touchy	(of an issue or situation) requiring careful handling; delicate. She s a little touchy about her age.
troubled	Showing distress or anxiety. A troubled expression.
uneasy	Causing or feeling anxiety; troubled or uncomfortable. She fell into an uneasy sleep.
uptight	Anxious or angry in a tense and overly controlled way. He is so uptight about everything.
vicious	Bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure. Vicious kicks.