fretfulness
Chronic petty worry
Fretfulness is a state of persistent, low-grade irritability or worry—the quality of being easily annoyed or anxious over small matters.
It suggests restless dissatisfaction rather than acute distress: The baby's fretfulness kept her parents up all night.
The word often describes children, invalids, or anyone worn down by discomfort or uncertainty.
Irritable, querulous disposition
- irascibilityTendency to anger easily
- testinessEasily provoked irritation
- grumpinessBad-tempered disposition
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
crankiness · grouchiness · petulance · snappishness · querulousness · displeasure · pique · sulkiness
State of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- worryTroubled mental state
- tensionStretched or strained state
angst · disquiet · dread · fearfulness · misgiving · trepidation · alarm · distress
Restless minor movements
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
- squirmingTwisting restlessly from discomfort
- pacingRate of movement
- twitchinessTendency toward sudden jerks
antsiness · nervousness · unease · fidgetiness · restiveness · fussiness · wriggling · shifting
peevishness
Irritable, querulous disposition
- irascibilityTendency to anger easily
- testinessEasily provoked irritation
- grumpinessBad-tempered disposition
exasperation · crankiness · grouchiness · petulance · snappishness · querulousness · displeasure · pique · sulkiness · touchiness
nervousness
State of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- worryTroubled mental state
tension · angst · disquiet · dread · fearfulness · misgiving · trepidation · alarm · distress · foreboding
fidgeting
Restless minor movements
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
- squirmingTwisting restlessly from discomfort
- pacingRate of movement
twitchiness · antsiness · nervousness · unease · fidgetiness · restiveness · fussiness · wriggling · shifting · disquiet
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
- agitationagitation, anxiety, worry, nervousness, unease
- anxietiesworry, angst, nervousness, dread, apprehension
- grumpinessgrumpiness, crankiness, moodiness, sullenness, grouchiness
- nervous feelingsnervousness, anxiety, uneasiness, apprehension, tenseness
- restlessnessrestlessness, fidgeting, fidgets, agitation, nervousness
fretfulnessserenity
Undisturbed mental quietude
calmness · tranquility · peacefulness · composure · equanimity
fretfulnesspatience
Calm during delays
self-control · forbearance · stoicism · tolerance · acceptance