FRETFUL Synonyms: 210 Similar and Opposite Words

fretful

adjective

Definition of fretful

as in irritable

tending towards or characterized by agitation or irritability They finally lulled the fretful baby to sleep. I kept having fretful thoughts about what would happen if we couldn't pay our bills.

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of fretful The quintessential late-’80s teen, Ryder here plays a fretful mom. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025 But that doesn’t mean viewers won’t be increasingly exasperated by the ways the screenplay forces Knightley’s character into a clumsy, fretful investigation. — The New York Times, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Investors are fretful heading into the August payrolls report. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025 Suddenly the Toronto crowd’s sound turned from festive to fretful. — Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fretful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretful

Adjective

Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, an irritable, cynical weatherman sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to report a story about the town’s quaint groundhog ceremony.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
Whether a balanced market can be achieved with competing cartels will be an interesting experiment in a sometimes-irritable trade relationship.

— Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritable

Adjective

And the more anxious students become about their career prospects, the more attractive banks and banking clubs become.

— Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
While Turkey and Pakistan, on the borders of the Middle East, have avoided significant direct attacks, both are anxious to calm conflicts that threaten their own security and economic health.

— Reuters, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of anxious

Adjective

The report also alleged that the foundational promise of the Joliet Treatment Center — available treatment for the mentally troubled — had gone largely unfulfilled.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Philadelphia comic Annie Lederman draws from her own troubled youth for some of her comedy.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of troubled

Adjective

Truth is, Westside Cowboy — all of whom are in their early to mid-twenties — are just as worried about it all as anyone else.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2026
Buyers were interested but worried about the optics of a show revolving around two wealthy, gallivanting white guys.

— Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of worried

Adjective

Daunt is apprehensive about what this could mean for the individual bookstores’ management, which has been perfected since his arrival as CEO.

— Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
However, Khramov is still a bit apprehensive bringing in her cello since every instrument Yupia plays leaves markings and gets damaged more quickly.

— Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026