petulant

Word family

pet·u·lant /ˈpetʃələnt/ adjectiveadj

BAD PERSONbehaving in an unreasonably impatient and angry way, like a child 任性的；耍孩子脾气的；脾气暴躁的

—petulantly adverbadv

‘Which one?’ he demanded petulantly.

“哪一个？”他没好气地问道。

—petulance noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

petulant• Crilly turns over and lies with his back stiff and petulant.• He, however, is becoming increasingly petulant and argumentative, playing scrum-half like a thwarted 15-year-old on the netball court.• His face looked strained and petulant, but he had clearly decided to put his mortgage and proximity to Lesley-Jane above pride.• I was made to feel like a petulant child who has flown into a temper because his favorite toy was removed.• Aggression, personal attacks and criticism, behaving like a petulant child.• Alexis walked out with a petulant look, and slammed the door.• Horatia had always looked petulant, now she looked vengeful and he was sure her mischief wasn't finished.• They remain friends, though she is quick to be petulant over telephone messages left unanswered and favours left undone.• He became more petulant than ever.

Origin petulant

(1500-1600) French Latin, from petere; → PETITION1

pet·u·lant adjectiveadj

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus