Petulant

Petulant

Definition

Petulant is an adjective that describes someone who is easily irritated, impatient, or sulky, especially over a small annoyance. When a person is being petulant, they often show sudden irritation or bad temper in response to something they dislike or find frustrating. It’s like when someone is acting childish or throwing a temper tantrum because they’re not getting their way.

For example, imagine a child who starts whining and stomping their feet because they can’t have a toy they want. That behavior could be described as petulant. Adults can also be petulant in certain situations when they react in an immature or sulky manner to things not going as they hoped. It's Important to note that being petulant is generally seen as a negative trait because it shows a lack of maturity and self-control. People who are frequently petulant may struggle to handle setbacks or disappointments gracefully.

Example sentences
The petulant child stomped his feet and pouted when he was told he couldn’t have any more candy.
The petulant customer demanded to speak to the manager when her order was delayed.
His petulant attitude made it challenging to have a productive conversation with him.
The actress displayed a petulant expression when she didn’t win the award.
Her petulant behavior during the meeting was off-putting to her colleagues.