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
Long wait times became a self-fulfilling prophecy In recent weeks, news of the turmoil at Social Security mobilized fretful Americans to telephone or visit the agency, seeding further chaos.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 1 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fretful
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 1 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fretful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fretful
Adjective
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Avi tries to comfort his grieving (read: irritable) mother by saying at least his grandmother and grandfather are together again in Heaven.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
22 Aug. 2025
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For years men have blamed divorce on menopause and said women are irritable and irrational, says Alyx Coble-Frake, founder of The Agenda, an app that helps women track their menstrual cycle to help increase productivity.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Adding squeaky toys and being careful to be gentle when bathing can all help an anxious dog at bathtime, and owners should use a muzzle if their dog becomes aggressive during bathtime.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
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However, the enthusiasm was short-lived, as the sell-off on Monday revealed that investors remain anxious about the uncertainties regarding the frequency and magnitude of potential rate cuts.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And who knows whether the troubled Miami franchise will actually stay in South Florida?—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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The artificial intelligence darling is expected to beat expectations as it’s done for just about the entirety of the AI rally, but the results come at a troubled time for the chipmaker, as the American company’s exposure to China has put it in the crosshairs of the Trump administration and Beijing.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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An agitated elephant lay on the psychiatrist’s couch.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
20 Aug. 2025
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Only a raving fan or an agitated individual has the sincere, genuine motivation to provide honest feedback.—
Chip Bell,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Yet, even in states with budget surpluses, governors and legislators are worried about rising costs, particularly for Medicaid.—
Patrick Gleason,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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At the same time, Powe is worried about the next time the river rises.—
Josh Wood,
The Courier-Journal,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Faced with punishment from school administrators, Westman appeared alternately nervous and nonchalant, the former employee said.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
29 Aug. 2025
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While most dogs don’t love pills, all dogs love a tasty treat, making these calming hemp chews an excellent choice for your nervous pup.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Heading into earnings, many on Wall Street remain apprehensive of the stock and are waiting for more proof.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
29 July 2025
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Instead, that first apprehensive meeting planted the seeds of Pride Social South County, one of the few groups in southern Santa Clara County dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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While grunge seemed peevish, grim, defeatist, and dour—and extended the kind of us-vs.-them culture most famously centered by the indie rock of the ’80s and ’90s, Oasis was celebratory, communal, and democratic while exploring themes of alienation, escape, and fantasies of triumph.—
Corey Seymour,
Vogue,
28 July 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Fretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fretful. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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