Petulant
/ˈpɛtʃələnt/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Petulant means showing sudden, impatient, or childish irritation, especially when things do not go as one wants. It often describes people who get upset quickly over small problems and act in a rude or sulky way.
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See It in Action
Showing childish annoyance or bad temper
- •The petulant child refused to share his toys.
- •She gave a petulant reply when asked to do more work.
- •His petulant behavior made it hard to work with him.
Being easily annoyed by small problems or delays
- •The customer became petulant when the service was slow.
- •He sounded petulant after waiting too long in line.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "petulant" like "angry," but more like a small child who is easily upset and acts grumpy over little things
- ✓Picture a child crossing their arms and pouting because they didn’t get their way
- ✓It’s the feeling when someone is annoyed and shows it by being moody or complaining in a sharp way
- ✓Sounds like "PET-chuh-lent" → imagine a small pet (like a puppy) acting stubborn or grumpy when it doesn’t get attention
- ✓Think of a character in a story who throws a little tantrum because things don’t happen immediately
- ✓NOT like "angry" (strong feeling), "petulant" is more about small, quick irritation and childish behavior
- ✓NOT like "calm" or "patient," petulant people lose their patience quickly and show it clearly
Try Other Words
- •Irritable: easily annoyed or upset (Use when the irritation is more general and less childish)
- •Grumpy: bad-tempered and unhappy (Use when someone is in a bad mood, often without a clear reason)
- •Touchy: easily upset or offended (Use when someone reacts quickly to small things, like petulant, but can be more sensitive)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: "petul-" from Latin "petulans" meaning forward, impertinent (rude) + "-ant" (adjective suffix)
- •Etymology: Comes from Latin, originally meaning bold or forward, later changed to mean rude or impatient
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe childish or rude behavior
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people, especially children or adults, who show quick, childish irritation or bad temper
Reflect & Connect
•Can being petulant sometimes be a way to get attention? How does this affect relationships?
•How do you feel when someone acts petulant around you? Can you think of a better way to respond?
Fill in the blanks
1.The petulant child started to cry because he didn’t ___ his favorite toy.
2.When the meeting was delayed, she became petulant and showed her ___ quickly.
3.Unlike calm people, petulant people often react ___ to small problems.
4.He gave a petulant answer, which made the conversation feel ___ and uncomfortable.
5.People who are petulant usually lose their patience ___.
6.The boss didn’t like the petulant tone because it sounded ___ and rude.
7.After waiting for a long time, his petulant behavior made others feel ___ and tired.