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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Recent Examples of fretful
At the very least, Washington sought to assure the fretful Parsons that all was not yet lost.
—
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Too many young people are anxious, fretful and socially isolated.
—Sarah Lent, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
At the very least, Washington sought to assure the fretful Parsons that all was not yet lost.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Now, for many in the business world, that question feels almost passé, part of an earlier, more fretful era of narratives.
—Talmon Joseph Smith, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fretful
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Too many young people are anxious, fretful and socially isolated.
—Sarah Lent, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
At the very least, Washington sought to assure the fretful Parsons that all was not yet lost.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Now, for many in the business world, that question feels almost passé, part of an earlier, more fretful era of narratives.
—Talmon Joseph Smith, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fretful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretful
Adjective
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Determined to make a clean SPF, Brown says a chemical formula was out of the question (chemical sunscreens are often thought to be unsafe for the coral reef and irritable to sensitive skin types).—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
9 July 2025
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In my own experience, poor sleep has frequently been the reason behind feeling tired and irritable.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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With Iran and its proxies diminished and Gulf states anxious to diversify their economies, any prospect for broader peace and normalization runs through Riyadh.—
Edward Felsenthal,
Time,
23 July 2025
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This is their first major sit-down interview together, and both are a bit anxious.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Son of Liam’s Map was a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby and a closing second in the Matt Winn Stakes in his last start.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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Bell is among at least 34 boys who stayed at Dozier and another 16 sent to Okeechobee — a separate boys’ school with a troubled history — who ended up on Florida’s death row, according to a review by The Marshall Project.—
The Marshall Project,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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Immigration attorney Mustafa Cetin told NJ.com around 50 detainees at the private center pushed down a dormitory wall after becoming agitated when meals were delayed.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
18 July 2025
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With the addition of each agenda, each passionate cause that grows more and more aggressive as its members grow more agitated, the tension in the film increases.—
Scott Phillips,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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One of the biggest shifts since the time of Rose is that far fewer Americans are worried about this potential problem.—
Harry Enten,
CNN Money,
11 July 2025
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Critics of Greene's bill are worried that the legislation could disproportionately benefit higher-income individuals, who naturally stand to make more profits from a home sale.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The odds of a recession may be falling, but states appear to be betting that corporate leaders are still nervous.—
Scott Cohn,
CNBC,
12 July 2025
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Then there's the real world, which is entirely different, so in reality people have nothing to be nervous about.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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But Georgi seems apprehensive about their upcoming visit.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
6 July 2025
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Before the 1991 trip, none of the Abilene Boys had appeared apprehensive.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Thousands of people — displaced by disaster, their past lives gone up in smoke — are hostage to the whims of a peevish president who always puts his feelings first and cares nothing for the greater good.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2025
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On a less peevish note: The entry is making its New York Times Crossword debut.—
Sam Corbin,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretful. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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