fretful — feeling or expressing distress or irritation
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: feeling or expressing distress or irritation
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfretfəl/
Example Sentences
- My cat gets fretful whenever I pack my suitcase.
- She became increasingly fretful as the exam date approached.
- The fretful passengers kept checking their watches during the flight delay.
fretful
ADJECTIVE[/ˈfretfəl/]
feeling or expressing distress or irritation
The fretful toddler squirms and whimpers in his mother's arms at the pediatrician's waiting room.
FRET(worry) + FUL(full of) — full of worry about his boss returning, the employee became increasingly fretful.
Cold sweat covered his forehead as the nervous actor grew increasingly fretful before the curtain rose.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'fretan' meaning 'to devour' or 'to gnaw away.' The word evolved to describe the anxious state where worry seems to gnaw at one's mind.
Breakdown
fret (to worry, gnaw) + -ful (adjective suffix meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by')
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat gets fretful whenever I pack my suitcase.”
“She became increasingly fretful as the exam date approached.”
“The fretful passengers kept checking their watches during the flight delay.”
“My phone battery makes me fretful when it drops below 20%.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.