adj
petulant
PEHT-shuu-luhnt
Petulant (adj) means Irritable and sulky in a childish way, often over something minor. Example: “He gave a petulant sigh when told he couldn't have another biscuit.”
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
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more petulant
- Superlative
- most petulant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for petulant
See all rhymes for 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.
