pettish
8.9
Quick to get annoyed about small things
- adjective
- /ˈpɛtɪʃ/
:
irritable
- His pettish remarks during the meeting frustrated everyone else.
Examples
-
She became pettish when her friends teased her about her new haircut.
-
Her voice was rather pettish as she licked her lips to close off her remark.
Fiction book (1995) -
I would like now to demonstrate my own suitability for tenure in an admittedly pettish way; I would like to quote myself.
Fiction book (1993) -
The child was pettish after missing her nap.
Synonyms
cranky
vspettish
117
4.2
Easily annoyed and upset when tired or hungry
is more about brooding annoyance at small things than grumpy complaining
testy
vspettish
32
7.2
Easily annoyed and quick to get angry
is less openly angry and more sulky about small matters
irritable
vspettish
32
3.7
Quick to become annoyed or angry
is more focused on petty sulking over trivial issues
petulant
vspettish
19
8.2
Acting easily annoyed and impatient about small things
is more about lingering, moody annoyance rather than quick outbursts
peevish
vspettish
5
7.8
Quick to get annoyed by small things
is more prone to brood and sulk about trivial matters
1
8.1
Being easily annoyed by small things
is moodier and more likely to be sullen rather than merely touchy
Antonyms
How Irritable
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Pettish comes from the old word petty, which means 'small' or 'trivial'. So, to be pettish is to get annoyed over little things — easily irritated or sulky about small matters.