petulant

[pech-uh-luh nt] /ˈpɛtʃ ə lənt/

adjective

moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance:

a petulant toss of the head.

Origin

1590-1600; < Latin petulant- (stem of petulāns) impudent, akin to petere to seek, head for

Related forms

petulantly, adverb

unpetulant, adjective

unpetulantly, adverb

Synonyms

irritable, peevish, fretful, pettish, touchy.

Examples from the web for petulant

On the one hand she could be a moody and petulant bully, who carefully cultivated inflexible opinions and fostered great hates.
Reagan, flushed with catastrophe and glowing in boy - ish middle age, brought it to a petulant and somehow threatening close.
His reply reads as testy and petulant, which may or may not be the intended tone.
His performances at European summits were petulant and destructive.
He blithered and dissembled, a picture of petulant indecision.
Anthony is probably not as petulant, moody or selfish as he projected.
There is something courageous and daring in it, but also something rather abrupt and petulant.
He must satisfy high-priced ball players, a petulant press and a fickle public.
His complaint made him look petulant and a bit absurd.
Another petulant passenger tossed a piece of luggage at her.

British Dictionary definitions for petulant

petulant

/ˈpɛtjʊlənt/

adjective

irritable, impatient, or sullen in a peevish or capricious way

Derived Forms

petulance, petulancy, noun
petulantly, adverb

Word Origin

C16: via Old French from Latin petulāns bold, from petulāre (unattested) to attack playfully, from petere to assail

Word Origin and History for petulant

adj.

1590s, "immodest, wanton, saucy," from Middle French petulant (mid-14c.), from Latin petulantem (nominative petulans) "wanton, froward, saucy, insolent," present participle of petere "to attack, assail; strive after; ask for, beg, beseech" (see petition (n.)). Meaning "peevish, irritable" first recorded 1775, probably by influence of pet (n.2). Related: Petulantly.