petulant

adjective

pet·u·lant ˈpe-chə-lənt

Synonyms of petulant next

: insolent or rude in speech or behavior

: characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor : peevish

petulantly adverb

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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."

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

This petulant idea almost works because actress Amy Adams, in the nameless role, benefits from no longer being overexposed. —

Armond White, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024 The young girl is petulant and bored at times, playing cards and listening to her grandma’s old-timey records. —

David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024 Cage’s performance in Peggy Sue as the heroine’s petulant, adenoidal, terminally ungrateful high-school boyfriend turned disappointing husband divides audiences to this day. —

Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 17 July 2024 But if Coppola’s latest film echoes some ugly tendencies in tech, its actual aims feel more personal and petulant. —

Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for petulant