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petulant JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˈpɛtjələnt/ · pe·tu·lant
adjective
  1. Childishly irritable; showing sudden, impatient annoyance. Lack of sleep is causing Dave's recent petulant behavior.
  2. Forward, pert, or insolently bold; wanton. She gave a petulant reply that shocked the committee.
Did you know? The word 'petulant' appears in Shakespeare's play 'The Taming of the Shrew' (1590), illustrating its early use to describe a petulant temperament.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 16, 2026