petulance

noun

pet·​u·​lance ˈpe-chə-lən(t)s 

: the quality or state of being petulant : peevishness

Synonyms of petulance

• irritability
• irritableness
• aggression

Examples of petulance in a Sentence

I do not appreciate your petulance and eagerness to argue.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even Wilfried Zaha, with all his on-pitch petulance, never allowed standards to slip. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Cusick and Kretschmann offer complementary chords of variable petulance and insecurity, as newcomer Cuoso ably negotiates her character’s shifting ambiguities. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 2026

Such petulance does not merit responsible high public office. — Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026

Sure, the Oscar-winning makeup helps transform the actor into Cheney, but the voice and petulance are all Bale, whose conjuring of this scoundrel ought to trigger PTSD for anyone who survived the Dubya years. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French petulance "impudence, boldness, effrontery," borrowed from Latin petulantia, derivative of petulant-, petulans "impudent, self-assertive" — more at petulant

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

petulance

noun

pet·​u·​lance ˈpech-ə-lən(t)s 

: the quality or state of being petulant