petulant

adjective

pet·​u·​lant ˈpe-chə-lənt 

1

: insolent or rude in speech or behavior

2

: characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor : peevish

petulantly adverb

Did you know?

Petulant Has Latin Roots

Petulant is one of many English words that are related to the Latin verb petere, which means "to go to," "to attack," "to seek," or "to request." "Petere" is a relative of the Latin adjective petulans ("impudent"), from which "petulant" was derived. Some other words with connections to "petere" are "compete" and "appetite." "Competere," the Late Latin precursor to "compete," is a combination of the prefix com- and the verb "petere." The joining of ad- and petere led to "appetere" ("to strive after"), and eventually to Latin appetitus, the source of our "appetite." Additional descendants of "petere" are "petition," "perpetual," and "impetus."

Synonyms

• choleric
• crabby
• cranky
• cross
• crotchety
• fiery
• grouchy
• grumpy
• irascible
• irritable
• peevish
• perverse
• pettish
• prickly
• quick-tempered
• raspy
• ratty
• short-tempered
• snappish
• snappy
• snarky
• snippety
• snippy
• stuffy
• testy
• waspish

Examples of petulant in a Sentence

Oxford's denial of her [Margaret Thatcher's] honorary degree in 1984 was no petulant fluke but an accurate measure of her unpopularity with the whole profession. —Harold Perkin, Times Literary Supplement, 26 June 1992

In the hot, petulant little cockpit she was triumphant—drunk with anger, defiance, and the beginnings of relief. —Sebastian Faulks, Independent on Sunday (London), 25 Nov. 1990

Sometimes, under … rapid-fire questioning, he became petulant and quibbled over words in a way that suggested a close reading of the law. —Frances FitzGerald, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 1989

Mouth petulant but its hardness in it, behind it. Looking at that mouth you felt her teeth in you … —Jayne Anne Phillips, Black Tickets, (1975) 1979

Her tone was petulant and angry.

a petulant and fussy man who is always blaming everyone else for his problems

Recent Examples on the Web

Even Pontius seems to have dropped his petulant glare for the time being. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025

The Associated Press and Reuters, two of the largest and most respected worldwide news agencies, were blocked from covering President Donald Trump’s petulant confrontation with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 28. —Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025

During his rise to fame in the Eighties, Val Kilmer garnered a reputation among his peers and the media as a brooding young actor who was often petulant on set. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2025

Laurie is petulant and dishonest. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin or Middle French; Middle French, from Latin petulant-, petulans; akin to Latin petere to go to, attack, seek — more at feather

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

petulant

adjective

pet·​u·​lant ˈpech-ə-lənt 

: marked by displays of rudeness or ill temper

petulantly adverb