fretful
Uneasy and irritable
Fretful describes a state of worried irritability or restless discontent.
A fretful baby fusses and won't settle.
A fretful night is marked by anxious wakefulness.
The word suggests persistent, low-grade agitation rather than acute distress: She grew fretful waiting for news.
Fearful of future events
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
- tenseStrained or nervous
edgy · jittery · overwrought · distressed · concerned · fearful · panicky · alarmed
Habitually fretful
- petulantChildishly bad-tempered
- querulousInclined to complain
- crankyIll-tempered and peevish
- grumpyIrritable in temperament
testy · snappy · tetchy · irascible · cantankerous · cross · fractious · crabby
Nervously unable to settle
- antsyRestlessly eager or nervous
- squirmyInclined to wriggle
- twitchyNervously prone to spasms
- restiveStubbornly resistant to control
agitated · unsettled · jumpy · skittish · unquiet · wriggly · keyed-up · on-edge
Unhappy with results
- unhappyExperiencing sorrow or displeasure
- displeasedMildly angry or annoyed
- disgruntledSullenly dissatisfied
- complainingExpressing discontent verbally
grumbling · whiny · moaning · plaintive · lamenting · malcontent · sour · miffed
Dark and dispiriting
- forlornSad and abandoned
- glumQuietly dejected
- sorrowfulFilled with grief
- mournfulShowing or feeling grief
doleful · somber · dejected · downcast · dispirited · despondent · woebegone · crestfallen
apprehensive
Fearful of future events
tense · edgy · jittery · overwrought · distressed · concerned · fearful · panicky · alarmed · troubled
peevish
Habitually fretful
grumpy · testy · snappy · tetchy · irascible · cantankerous · cross · fractious · crabby · short-tempered
fidgety
Nervously unable to settle
restive · agitated · unsettled · jumpy · skittish · unquiet · wriggly · keyed-up · on-edge · wound-up
dissatisfied
Unhappy with results
- unhappyExperiencing sorrow or displeasure
- displeasedMildly angry or annoyed
- disgruntledSullenly dissatisfied
complaining · grumbling · whiny · moaning · plaintive · lamenting · malcontent · sour · miffed · sulky
gloomy
Dark and dispiriting
mournful · doleful · somber · dejected · downcast · dispirited · despondent · woebegone · crestfallen · plaintive
- irritabilitycranky, grouchy, grumpy, irritated, annoyed
- irritatingannoying, aggravating, bothersome, exasperating, frustrating
fretfulpatient
Able to wait calmly
forbearing · tolerant · uncomplaining · long-suffering · resigned