petulantly

American  

[pech-uh-luhnt-lee] / ˈpɛtʃ ə lənt li /

adverb

1. in a way that shows impatient irritation, especially over some minor annoyance.

   When the vote didn't go his way at the meeting, he knocked over his chair, petulantly kicked it out of his path, and stormed out of the room.

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Other Word Forms

• unpetulantly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of petulantly

petulant ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

When you do something petulantly, you are being irritable or peevish. If you petulantly roll your eyes at your boss, you might risk losing that promotion. Petulantly is the adverb formation of petulant, which comes from the Latin word petulantem, meaning “wanton,” “forward,” or “insolent.” The modern use of petulantly has morphed to mean that one is moody or childish, and no longer means that one is wanton or forward. Acting petulantly won’t get you very far. People don’t usually respond well to children acting bratty, and it’s even worse when adults do it.

Example Sentences

Petulantly, Tensor disintegrated the noisy one and also some ugly cables that led from the panel to the wall.

From Fair and Warmer by Wald, E. G. von

Petulantly she snatched the envelope from the desk and opened it.

From The Precipice by Peattie, Elia Wilkinson

Petulantly she cried: "If I had thought you were going to make fun of me, Will, I wouldn't have talked to you at all."

From The Easiest Way A Story of Metropolitan Life by Walter, Eugene

Petulantly Louis chid these discordant minstrels of the night, and joyfully he hailed the first gush of moonlight that rose broad and full and red, over the Oak-hills to the eastward.

From Canadian Crusoes by Traill, Catharine Parr Strickland

Petulantly he shook off her hand; slowly she drew away from him, beginning—yet fearing—to understand.

From Where the Souls of Men are Calling by Neill, John R. (John Rea)