adj
petulant
PEHT-shuu-luhnt
adj
1
Irritable and sulky in a childish way, often over something minor.
"He gave a petulant sigh when told he couldn't have another biscuit."
"The star's petulant outburst at the interviewer made headlines."
How to Use Petulant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBehaving like a sulky, easily-annoyed child, even as an adult.
Common pairings
petulant child
petulant tone
petulant outburst
Word Forms
more petulant comparative, most petulant superlative
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He gave a _____ sigh when told he couldn't have another biscuit.
Etymology
From Latin petulans, related to petere, "to attack or demand" — originally implying pert, cheeky insolence before settling into today's "sulky" sense.