Meanings
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1
adj
Childishly irritable.
Lack of sleep is causing Dave's recent petulant behavior.
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2
adj
Forward; pert; insolent; wanton.
Who hath not like cause to complain, and is not so troubled, that shall fall into the mouths of such men? for many are of so petulant a spleen.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
1
adj
· childishly irritable.
atrabiliousbad-temperedbiliousbitchybrainishcantankerouscarnaptiouscholeric
Word family
Etymology
From Middle French, from Latin petulāns, akin to petō (“to ask for”).