petulant

[US]/ˈpetjulənt/
[UK]/ˈpetʃələnt/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

adj. easily irritated, having a bad temper.

Example Sentences

a petulant shake of the head.

She could be wayward, petulant, and disagreeable.

The petulant child stomped his feet and refused to eat his vegetables.

She gave a petulant sigh when her request was denied.

His petulant attitude made it difficult to work with him.

The actress threw a petulant tantrum when she didn't get the role she wanted.

The petulant customer demanded to speak to the manager.

He was known for his petulant outbursts whenever things didn't go his way.

Her petulant behavior was a result of being tired and hungry.

The petulant cat knocked over a vase in protest of being ignored.

He had a petulant expression on his face as he sulked in the corner.

The petulant student refused to follow the teacher's instructions.

Real-world Examples

As an executive, Jobs has sometimes been petulant and harsh on subordinates.

Source: Steve Jobs Biography

Now, now, now, Bo, don't be so petulant.

Source: Lost Girl Season 2

It was to him I was to tell it, he repeated with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man.

Source: The Sign of the Four

He was petulant even then, attacking a Time correspondent for having wounded him with a story that was too revealing.

Source: Steve Jobs Biography

And I love the petulant, spoiled nature of him.

Source: GQ — Representative Roles of Celebrities

Oh, I'm sorry. Was that petulant, too?

Source: Desperate Housewives Video Edition Season 1

Handsome, petulant, short, not pleasant until after ten am.

Source: Red White & Royal Blue

When he became petulant, the pharmacist let him smell the pharmaceutical.

Source: Pan Pan

She vented petulant words every now and then, but there were sighs between her words, and sudden listenings between her sighs.

Source: Returning Home

Ferdinand E. Warren, a commercial artist, used this technique to win the good will of a petulant, scolding buyer of art.

Source: The Weaknesses of Human Nature (Part 2)

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