petulant
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of petulant
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin petulant- (stem of petulāns ) “impudent,” akin to petere “to seek, head for”
Explanation
Choose the adjective petulant to describe a person or behavior that is irritable in a childish way. The adjective petulant is a disapproving term used to describe a bad-tempered child, an adult behaving like an angry child or behavior of this type. It's one thing to be angry or annoyed but if someone is petulant, they're acting in an unreasonable or unjustified manner. Petulant came to English in the late 16th century from the Latin petulantem, "forward, insolent" but was not recorded to mean "childishly irritable" until the late 1700s.
Vocabulary lists containing petulant
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Petulant outbursts are not always detrimental to tennis players' legacies.
From Time • Jul. 7, 2017
From the sturdy bread served with herbed, fruity olive oil and roasted red pepper butter to the marvelous homemade desserts, a meal at Petulant Wino is special — and affordable.
From New York Times • Aug. 29, 2014
In June, Mr. Schaudel, a restaurateur and chef, opened a new place called Petulant Wino in the heart of North Fork wine country.
From New York Times • Aug. 29, 2014
Well, it's time for Archie Bunker to move over and make way for Petulant Pierre.
From Time Magazine Archive
Petulant and you both will find Mirabell as warm a rival as a lover.
From The Way of the World by Congreve, William
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
