Fretful means anxious and worried, often about small things that might not matter much. A fretful person keeps thinking about what could go wrong, feeling unsettled and unable to relax.

You might feel fretful before giving a presentation, wondering if you'll forget your lines or if your classmates will laugh. A fretful parent might worry constantly about whether their child remembered their lunch or wore a warm enough jacket. The word suggests restless worrying that keeps bubbling up, like an itch you can't quite scratch.

The related verb to fret means to worry in this anxious way. Someone might fret about an upcoming test even after studying thoroughly, or fret about whether their friend is upset with them over something minor.

Fretful can also describe babies who cry and fuss without settling down, and that captures the word's essence: restless discomfort that's hard to shake. While some worry helps people prepare and stay safe, being fretful means letting worry take over when it doesn't need to.