Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Easily irritated or annoyed: Describes a person who becomes angry, impatient, or upset over minor issues, often in a childish or sulky manner.
   • Showing sudden, impatient irritation: Characterized by peevish or petulant behavior, often involving ill-tempered complaints or moody silence.

Usage

• The word "petulant" is used to describe a person's temporary mood or characteristic temperament. It often implies a certain childishness or lack of emotional control in the expression of annoyance.
• It is a formal or literary term, more specific and stronger than simply saying "irritable."

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The tired child became petulant when told he couldn't have another cookie.
  • She gave a petulant sigh and rolled her eyes at the delay.
  • His petulant response to the criticism surprised everyone in the meeting.

Advanced Usage

• "petulant tone/voice": A way of speaking that conveys childish irritation.
  • He answered all questions in a petulant tone, making cooperation difficult.
• "petulant outburst": A sudden expression of peevish anger.
  • The manager's petulant outburst over a minor error created a tense atmosphere.

Variants and Related Words

• Petulantly (adverb): In a petulant manner.
  • "It's not fair," she said petulantly, crossing her arms.
• Petulance (noun): The quality or state of being petulant.
  • His constant petulance made him difficult to work with.

Synonyms

• Peevish: Easily irritated, especially by unimportant things.
• Fractious: Irritable and quarrelsome.
• Irritable: Having or showing a tendency to be easily annoyed.
• Cranky: Ill-tempered and irritable.
• Sulky: Morose, bad-tempered, and resentful; refusing to be cooperative or cheerful.

Antonyms

• Easygoing: Relaxed and tolerant in attitude or manner.
• Amiable: Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
• Good-humored: Cheerful and genial.
• Patient: Able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "In a petulant mood": Describes someone currently displaying petulant behavior.
  • Be careful when you talk to him; he's been in a petulant mood all day.
• "Stomp off in a petulant huff": To leave angrily in a childish, sulky manner.
  • After losing the game, he stomped off in a petulant huff.

Adjective

1. easily irritated or annoyed
   • an incorrigibly fractious young man
   • not the least nettlesome of his countrymen