petulant

USAGE SUMMARY

"petulant" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective that means "easily annoyed or upset; irritable; touchy." Example sentence: "The petulant child stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On the other, he just looks a total tool when he accuses politicians and the media of obfuscating and ducking questions when he then does precisely the same, and with added bully-boy petulant aggression.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

To find out what it's really about requires the tenacity of Jeremy Paxman crossed with a petulant toddler.

The Guardian

The striker is petulant in the extreme and on another day might have seen red himself after off-the-ball incidents in which he was seen to lash out at Nicola Legrottaglie and swear at the referee, Stefano Farina.

The Guardian - Sport

His all-too-short killing spree and weird little bromance with man-brat Dandy (deliciously petulant newcomer Finn Wittrock) were the high-water marks of the series so far.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Museveni himself shrugged off threats of aid withdrawal with a somewhat petulant avowal: "We don't need aid… because a country like Uganda is one of the richest on earth".

The Guardian

In opposition the PSDB has often sounded petulant and elitist.

The Economist

More worrying is the possibility that Mr Tévez's petulant behavior is indicative of deeper problems at Manchester City.

The Economist

And he squandered his biggest chance of influence in the 1990s because of a petulant squabble with the Clinton administration.

The Economist

Tensions continued with Cox's successor, Sir Henry Dobbs, who in a letter to his wife described the king as "puerile and petulant" and questioned his fitness to rule.

The Economist

The move against Gazprom came only a week after it launched a statement of objections against another corporate giant, Google.For Gazprom the most petulant option would be to ignore the EU.

The Economist

Only the petulant resignation of George Davies, the founder of Per Una, an in-house fashion label, spoiled Mr Rose's day.In this section Stressed out The policeman's dilemma The art of dying Financial fashion Please, sir Nasty awakening... Eeny meeny miney mo Can the Tories become the nice party?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character or public figure, use "petulant" to convey a sense of childish irritability and impatience, ensuring the context supports this specific nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "petulant" as a general synonym for "angry" or "irritable". "Petulant" carries a specific connotation of childishness and sulkiness, so ensure it accurately reflects the behavior you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "petulant" primarily functions as a modifier, attributing a quality of childish irritability or sulkiness to a noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and well-supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "petulant" is a commonly used adjective that accurately describes someone displaying childish irritability or sulkiness. As Ludwig AI indicates, its grammatical usage is correct and widely accepted. Predominantly found in News & Media, it's used to express disapproval of immature behavior. When writing, ensure the context aligns with the specific nuance of childish annoyance, distinguishing it from general anger or stubbornness. Consider alternatives like "irritable", "peevish", or "sulky" to fine-tune your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irritable

Focuses more on the general state of being easily annoyed, less on the childish aspect.

peevish

Emphasizes a discontented and complaining attitude.

testy

Highlights impatience and a tendency to react irritably.

cranky

Suggests a bad-tempered and irritable mood, often temporary.

sulky

Implies a silent resentment and unwillingness to be cooperative.

bad-tempered

A general term for having a consistently unpleasant mood.

ill-humored

Similar to bad-tempered, but can also suggest a more chronic state.

whining

Specifically describes the act of complaining in a childish or annoying way.

querulous

Characterizes someone who is habitually complaining.

fractious

Indicates irritability and a tendency to cause disruptions or arguments.

FAQs

How to use "petulant" in a sentence?

You can use "petulant" to describe someone showing childish annoyance. For instance, "The child's "petulant behavior" disrupted the meeting".

What can I say instead of "petulant"?

You can use alternatives like "irritable", "peevish", or "sulky" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Which is correct, "petulant" or "pensive"?

"Petulant" describes childish irritability, while "pensive" means deep in thought. They have entirely different meanings and are not interchangeable.

What's the difference between "petulant" and "stubborn"?

"Petulant" implies childish annoyance and sulkiness. "Stubborn", on the other hand, suggests a firm resistance to change or persuasion, without necessarily being openly irritated or childish.