noun
petulance
PECH-uh-lunss/ˈpetʃələns/
Childish irritability or sulky bad temper.
The older man shows petulance by turning away sulkily after losing.
Etymology
Latin petulantia described impudence rather than sulkiness. The English noun shifted from insolence and rudeness toward peevish bad temper under the influence of words such as pettish.
In context
All the weakness of his moral nature came out in his petulance. It was boyish that his eyes filled with tears. He knew it, and that made him more angry than ever.
More examples
- There is a hint of petulance in her voice.
- The toddler's petulance grows worse when he is tired.
- He responds to criticism with petulance instead of considering the advice.
Forms
petulance
petulant adjective — Showing childish irritability or sulky bad temper.
petulantly adverb — In a childishly irritable or sulky manner.
Similar words
- irritability
- Irritability is broader and need not seem childish or sulky.
- sulkiness
- Sulkiness emphasizes withdrawn resentment rather than sharp, impatient reactions.