petulant

adjective

pet·​u·​lant ˈpe-chə-lənt How to pronounce petulant (audio)
1
: insolent or rude in speech or behavior
2
: characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor : peevish
petulantly adverb

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Petulant Has Latin Roots

Petulant is one of many English words that are related to the Latin verb petere, which means "to go to," "to attack," "to seek," or "to request." "Petere" is a relative of the Latin adjective petulans ("impudent"), from which "petulant" was derived. Some other words with connections to "petere" are "compete" and "appetite." "Competere," the Late Latin precursor to "compete," is a combination of the prefix com- and the verb "petere." The joining of ad- and petere led to "appetere" ("to strive after"), and eventually to Latin appetitus, the source of our "appetite." Additional descendants of "petere" are "petition," "perpetual," and "impetus."

Examples of petulant in a Sentence

Oxford's denial of her [Margaret Thatcher's] honorary degree in 1984 was no petulant fluke but an accurate measure of her unpopularity with the whole profession. Harold Perkin, Times Literary Supplement, 26 June 1992
In the hot, petulant little cockpit she was triumphant—drunk with anger, defiance, and the beginnings of relief. Sebastian Faulks, Independent on Sunday (London), 25 Nov. 1990
Sometimes, under … rapid-fire questioning, he became petulant and quibbled over words in a way that suggested a close reading of the law. Frances FitzGerald, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 1989
Mouth petulant but its hardness in it, behind it. Looking at that mouth you felt her teeth in you … Jayne Anne Phillips, Black Tickets, (1975) 1979
Her tone was petulant and angry. a petulant and fussy man who is always blaming everyone else for his problems
Recent Examples on the Web For a start, Apple’s whole approach to DMA compliance—the very thing Sweeney was loudly protesting—has been downright petulant. David Meyer, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 That sounds like something a petulant 5th grader would say. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for petulant 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petulant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin or Middle French; Middle French, from Latin petulant-, petulans; akin to Latin petere to go to, attack, seek — more at feather

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of petulant was in 1598

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Dictionary Entries Near petulant

Cite this Entry

“Petulant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petulant. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

petulant

adjective
pet·​u·​lant ˈpech-ə-lənt How to pronounce petulant (audio)
: marked by displays of rudeness or ill temper
petulantly adverb

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