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)

agitatedTroubled emotionally and usually deeply.
Agitated parents.
antsyNervous and unable to relax.
Dick got antsy the day he put to sea.
distraughtVery worried and upset.
He is terribly distraught.
distressedFacing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty.
The distressed relatives of his victims.
fidgetyInclined to fidget; restless or uneasy.
I get nervous and fidgety at the dentist.
ill at easePresaging ill fortune- P.B.Shelley.
itchyHaving or causing an itch.
Dry itchy skin.
miserableOf 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.
querulousHabitually complaining.
She became querulous and demanding.
restiveImpatient especially under restriction or delay.
Both their horses became restive at once.
stressedStrengthened by the application of stress during manufacture prestressed.
Stressed concrete walls.
tensePronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles e g the vowel sound in beat.
Relations between the two neighbouring states were tense.
uncomfortableConducive to or feeling mental discomfort.
An uncomfortable silence.
uneasyCausing or fraught with or showing anxiety.
Uneasy about his health.
unsettledNot yet settled.
A spell of unsettled weather.
upsetMildly physically distressed.
An upset stomach.
whineyHabitually complaining.
whinyHaving a complaining tone.
He speaks in a whiny childish voice.
worked upBeing or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level.
wrought upShaped 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)

angerFill someone with anger provoke anger in.
She could barely restrain her anger at this comment.
arousedEmotionally aroused.
The aroused opposition.
cantankerousHaving a difficult and contrary disposition- Dorothy Sayers.
He can be a cantankerous old fossil at times.
complainingThe expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.
A complaining boss.
constrainedSeverely restricted in scope, extent, or activity.
Many families are operating under constrained budgets.
constrictedEspecially tense; especially in some dialects.
A constricted blood vessel.
crankyBad-tempered; irritable.
After a juddering landing the cranky plane eased up the runway.
crookedNot straight; dishonest or immoral or evasive.
His teeth were yellow and crooked.
defuseRemove 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.
fretProvide a musical instrument with frets.
She fretted about the cost of groceries.
harassmentThe act of tormenting by continued persistent attacks and criticism.
They face daily harassment and assault on the streets.
hateDislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards.
I hate to bother you.
jitteryBeing in a tense state.
Caffeine makes me jittery.
nervouslyIn an anxiously nervous manner.
Kevin nervously glanced at his watch.
nervyShowing or requiring courage and contempt of danger.
A nervy thing to say.
peevishEasily irritated or annoyed.
A thin peevish voice.
petulant(of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
He was moody and petulant.
querulousComplaining in a rather petulant or whining manner.
She became querulous and demanding.
regretExpress with regret.
I regret I can t come to the party.
strainedOf a mainly liquid substance having been strained to separate out any solid matter.
A constrained smile.
tenseBecome stretched or tense or taut.
Relations between the two neighbouring states were tense.
testyEasily irritated or annoyed.
She could see him growing quite testy beneath that polished urbanity.
tormentTorment 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.
troubledShowing distress or anxiety.
A troubled expression.
uneasyCausing or feeling anxiety; troubled or uncomfortable.
She fell into an uneasy sleep.
uptightAnxious or angry in a tense and overly controlled way.
He is so uptight about everything.
viciousBringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure.
Vicious kicks.

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