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Definitions

pettish

[pet-ish] / ˈpɛt ɪʃ /
ADJECTIVE
cross
Synonyms
STRONG
annoyed caviling faultfinding peeved short vexed
WEAK
cantankerous captious choleric churlish crabby cranky crotchety crusty disagreeable fractious fretful grouchy grumpy ill-humored ill-tempered impatient irascible irritable out of humor peevish petulant put out querulous quick-tempered snappy splenetic sullen surly testy tetchy touchy waspish
Antonyms
WEAK
animated cheerful happy pleasant
ADJECTIVE
disagreeable
Synonyms
STRONGEST
obnoxious rude unpleasant
WEAK
bellicose brusque cantankerous churlish contentious contrary cross difficult disobliging disputatious eristic grouchy ill-natured nasty offensive out of sorts peevish petulant querulous snappy surly ugly unfriendly ungracious unlikable uptight waspish whiny
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable delightful kind nice pleasant
WEAK
friendly happy inoffensive pleasing
ADJECTIVE
fractious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
irritable recalcitrant restive testy unmanageable unruly
WEAK
awkward captious crabby disorderly fretful froward huffy indocile indomitable intractable mean ornery peevish perverse petulant querulous refractory scrappy snappish thin-skinned touchy uncompliant undisciplined wayward wild
Antonyms
STRONGEST
happy obedient
WEAK
agreeable complaisant nice patient
ADJECTIVE
grumpy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cantankerous crotchety grouchy irritable sullen surly testy
WEAK
bad-tempered crabby cross disgruntled dissatisfied griping grumbling peevish petulant querulous sulky truculent
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful happy nice pleasant
ADJECTIVE
huffy
Synonyms
WEAK
angered annoyed crabbed crabby cross crotchety crusty curt disgruntled exasperated fractious grumpy huffish hurt insulted irked irritable miffed moody moping nettled offended peeved peevish petulant piqued provoked put out querulous resentful riled short snappish snappy stewed sulky sullen surly testy touchy vexed waspish
Antonyms
WEAK
cheerful delighted happy joyful
ADJECTIVE
quarrelsome
Synonyms
STRONGEST
belligerent cantankerous combative contentious fractious litigious petulant tempestuous turbulent unruly
WEAK
argumentative bad-tempered bellicose brawling cat-and-dog choleric churlish crabby cross disputatious dissentious excitable fiery gladiatorial hasty have chip on shoulder hotheaded huffy impassioned irascible irritable ornery passionate peevish pugnacious querulous ructious snappy thin-skinned touchy truculent violent war
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable calm good-natured happy mild moderate nice obedient pleasant
WEAK
forgiving friendly patient
ADJECTIVE
touchy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delicate dicey hypersensitive jumpy precarious risky sensitive testy ticklish tricky uptight volatile
WEAK
bad-tempered bundle of nerves cantankerous captious choleric crabbed cranky cross grouchy grumpy hazardous irascible irritable mean ornery oversensitive peevish perturbable petulant querulous quick-tempered splenetic surly temperamental thin-skinned unpredictable unsafe wired up wound-up
Antonyms
STRONG
calm collected easy easygoing insensitive laid-back unflappable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Harrumphing and sneering as the Primms’ pettish downstairs neighbor, Gelman grates.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2022

He left office with a reputation as the pettish, totally unamiable author of some of the world's most elephantine prose.

From Time Magazine Archive

The entire French press was pettish over the fact that Germany has said no official "Thank You" to France for evacuating the Rhineland.

From Time Magazine Archive

The $196 million trade pact was abruptly canceled by Peking in a pettish squabble about a Chinese trade delegation's right to fly the Red flag in Tokyo.

From Time Magazine Archive

Yes, horribly,” he cried, in a pettish way.

From The Parson O' Dumford by Fenn, George Manville

Vocabulary lists containing pettish

The Secret Garden

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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The Borrowers

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