Etymology
Origin of petulance
First recorded in 1600–10, petulance is from the Latin word petulantia impudence. See petulant, -ance
Explanation
Petulance is whininess and irritability. Your least favorite thing about the kids you babysit might be their petulance. The noun petulance is the quality of being fretful, complaining, petty, or generally cranky. It's not a pleasant characteristic — it's almost always described negatively, like when you talk about the childishness and petulance of your constantly whining boss or the petulance of a hotel guest who complains about the pillows being too fluffy. Petulance comes from the Latin petulantia, which means insolence or immodesty.
Vocabulary lists containing petulance
Tuck Everlasting
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"Winter Dreams," Vocabulary from the short story
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Pygmalion
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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.
Tom has a more pressing motive than soothing petulance over illustrations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
Musk’s petulance doesn’t demand a great deal of investigation.
From Barron's • Dec. 8, 2025
The trial’s opening act will likely feature much the same brand of petulance and vituperation from the defendant, now redirected to the jury selection process.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2024
James' petulance meant England had to navigate extra time 10 players, and Nigeria had their tails up following a sustained period of pressure prior to the Chelsea star's sending-off.
From BBC • Aug. 7, 2023
I finally asked, an unintentional note of petulance in my voice.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
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.
