WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
pet•u•lance
(pech′ə ləns),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025- the state or quality of being petulant.
- a petulant speech or action.
- Latin petulantia impudence. See petulant, -ance
- 1600–10
pet•u•lant /ˈpɛtʃələnt/USA pronunciation
adj.
pet•u•lant•ly, adv. : They complained petulantly about every minor problem.See -pet-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- showing sudden irritation;
peevish:The child grew petulant, clamoring for his mother.
pet•u•lant•ly, adv. : They complained petulantly about every minor problem.See -pet-.
pet•u•lant
(pech′ə lənt),USA pronunciation adj.
pet′u•lant•ly, adv.
- moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, esp. over some trifling annoyance:a petulant toss of the head.
- Latin petulant- (stem of petulāns) impudent, akin to petere to seek, head for
- 1590–1600
- irritable, peevish, fretful, pettish, touchy.
'petulance' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):