petulant

C2+ Topic:Register & Style
US /ˈpɛt͡ʃʊlənt/
adj Freq #38506

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    Childishly irritable.

    Lack of sleep is causing Dave's recent petulant behavior.

  2. 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
2 adj · forward; pert; insolent;... audaciousboldbold as brassbold-facedbrassybrazenbrazen-facedcheeky
Word family
Derived forms petulantlyunpetulant

Etymology

From Middle French, from Latin petulāns, akin to petō (“to ask for”).

Topics

markdown

Send feedback

Optional — only if you'd like a reply.