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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of petulant

The male characters are, typically, petulant narcissists with perpetual sneers who insult and cajole their female love interests into almost invariably unhealthy relationships. —Josh Bell, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025

While Harvey and Mike were the beating heart (and Jessica, the fearsome lioness) of Suits, the show’s ensemble formed its strong backbone: Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), Harvey’s petulant, heart-on-his-sleeve frenemy, became the kind of character audiences loved to hate, or even grew to love. —Max Gao, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025

His king is self-satisfied and perfectly petulant, dispatching orders, and often men’s lives, with gleaming disdain. —David Benedict, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025

Musk, often potty-mouthed and petulant on X, replied that Tesla was ready to do exactly that. —Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2025

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