petulant
[pech-uh-luhnt]
||
adjective
moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance: a petulant toss of the head.
Origin of petulant
1590–1600; < Latin petulant- (stem of petulāns) impudent, akin to petere to seek, head for
Synonyms for petulant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for petulantly
Historical Examples of petulantly
It was the woman's voice behind them, petulantly exclaiming.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
"No; nor will she miss now," cries The Vengeance, petulantly.
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens
"I think the whole affair has been a mistake, anyway," one of them said petulantly.
The Film of FearArnold Fredericks
"Well, I never kin tell t'other from which," replied Maria, petulantly.
Si Klegg, Book 5 (of 6)John McElroy
"I've been ringing this bell for hours," it said petulantly.
Such Blooming TalkL. Major Reynolds
petulant
adjective
Word Origin for petulant
C16: via Old French from Latin petulāns bold, from petulāre (unattested) to attack playfully, from petere to assail
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
petulant
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper