petulant
11 synonyms and 2 antonyms for petulant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Irritable and sulky in a childish way, often over something minor.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use petulant
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
petulant child
petulant tone
petulant outburst
Etymology
From Latin petulans, related to petere, "to attack or demand" — originally implying pert, cheeky insolence before settling into today's "sulky" sense.
Full origin of petulant →Frequently asked questions
What does “petulant” mean?
The word “petulant” means irritable and sulky in a childish way, often over something minor. In plain terms, behaving like a sulky, easily-annoyed child, even as an adult.
How do you pronounce “petulant”?
“Petulant” is pronounced PEHT-shuu-luhnt (/ˈpɛt͡ʃʊlənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “petulant” in a sentence?
Here is “petulant” used in a sentence: “He gave a petulant sigh when told he couldn't have another biscuit.”
What part of speech is “petulant”?
“Petulant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “petulant” come from?
The word “petulant” comes from Latin. From Latin petulans, related to petere, "to attack or demand" — originally implying pert, cheeky insolence before settling into today's "sulky" sense.
