01 a. Disposed to fret; ill-humored; peevish; angry; in a state of vexation; as, a fretful temper.
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1.
Disposed to fret; ill-humored; peevish; angry; in a state of vexation; as, a fretful temper.
Syn.
Peevish; ill-humored; ill-natured; irritable; waspish; captious; petulant; splenetic; spleeny; passionate; angry.
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.