Petulance - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Petulance is a childish or sulky bad temper, often shown through unreasonable irritation or impatience. It describes someone who complains or behaves rudely when annoyed.
Definition:
Childish irritability or bad temper over trivial matters.
Synonyms:
Irritability, peevishness, petulancy, sulkiness
Part of Speech:
Noun
Antonyms:
Patience, cheerfulness
Common Collocations:
Display petulance, childish petulance, outburst of petulance
Derivatives:
Petulant, petulantly
Usage Tips:
Use "petulance" to describe immature anger or sulking, often in children or unreasonable adults.
Common Phrases:
Fit of petulance, act with petulance, display of petulance
Etymology:
From Latin *petulantia*, meaning "impudence," related to *petere* ("to attack").
Examples:
- 1. Her petulance made the meeting unpleasant for everyone.
- 2. The child’s petulance faded after a nap.
- 3. He responded with unnecessary petulance to the minor criticism.
- 4. Petulance rarely solves problems in professional settings.