Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Nearby Entries
Definition of petulantly - 3 dictionary results

pet⋅u⋅lant

  [pech-uh-luhnt]
Use petulantly in a Sentence
–adjective
moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, esp. over some trifling annoyance: a petulant toss of the head.
Origin:
1590–1600; < L petulant- (s. of petulāns) impudent, akin to petere to seek, head for

Related forms:
pet⋅u⋅lant⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
irritable, peevish, fretful, pettish, touchy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To petulantly
pet·u·lant   (pěch'ə-lənt)   
adj.  
  1. Unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered; peevish.
  2. Contemptuous in speech or behavior.

[Latin petulāns, petulant-, insolent, from petere, to assail; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]
pet'u·lance, pet'u·lan·cy n., pet'u·lant·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Petulantly

Pet"u*lant*ly\, adv. In a petulant manner.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see petulantly on Thesaurus | Reference