Synonyms of petulant

petulant

adjective

ˈpe-chə-lənt 

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritable
• fiery
• peevish
• irascible
• snappish
• grumpy
• waspish
• crotchety
• grouchy
• snarky
• pettish
• testy
• crabby
• choleric
• passionate
• cross
• snippy
• raspy
• short-tempered
• out of humor
• cranky
• out of sorts
• stuffy
• sensitive
• perverse
• querulous
• quick-tempered
• prickly
• belligerent
• ratty
• short
• cantankerous
• ornery
• contentious
• surly
• snippety
• bilious
• curmudgeonly
• dyspeptic
• fretful
• disagreeable
• snarly
• pugnacious
• bellicose
• combative
• argumentative
• sulky
• pouty
• truculent
• snappy
• sullen
• ill-tempered
• quarrelsome
• fractious
• tetchy
• ill-humored
• ill-natured
• huffy
• scrappy
• off-colored
• disputatious
• cross-grained
• bearish
• thin-skinned
• off-color
• touchy
• hot-blooded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• friendly
• affable
• outgoing
• cordial
• gregarious
• genial
• amiable
• sweet
• extroverted
• companionable
• sociable
• good-natured
• extraverted
• agreeable
• carefree
• easygoing
• good-tempered
• patient
• relaxed
• stoic
• tolerant
• stoical
• well-disposed
• long-suffering
• uncomplaining
• forbearing
• understanding
• obliging
• happy-go-lucky

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of petulant

O’Neill’s version of Sterling is loud, petulant, relentlessly childlike, uniquely jarring in his entitlement and obliviousness (for example, in a scene where an assistant brings him news of the leak and Sterling shrugs it off as nothing). —Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 3 July 2024

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

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