browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Fretful  \Fret"ful\,  a.  [See  2d  {Fret}.] 
  Disposed  to  fret;  ill-humored;  peevish;  angry;  in  a  state  of 
  vexation;  as  a  fretful  temper.  --  {Fret"ful-ly},  adv  -- 
  {Fret"ful-ness},  n. 
 
  Syn:  Peevish;  ill-humored;  ill-natured;  irritable;  waspish; 
  captious;  petulant;  splenetic;  spleeny;  passionate; 
  angry. 
 
  Usage:  {Fretful},  {Peevish},  {Cross}.  These  words  all 
  indicate  an  unamiable  working  and  expression  of 
  temper.  Peevish  marks  more  especially  the  inward 
  spirit:  a  peevish  man  is  always  ready  to  find  fault. 
  Fretful  points  rather  to  the  outward  act  and  marks  a 
  complaining  impatience:  sickly  children  are  apt  to  be 
  fretful.  Crossness  is  peevishness  mingled  with 
  vexation  or  anger. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  fretfulness 
  n  :  an  irritable  petulant  feeling  [syn:  {irritability},  {crossness}, 
  {fussiness},  {peevishness},  {petulance},  {choler}] 

Recent Content

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Shared content with implied attribution.