Skip to main content
pettishly

pettishly

8.6
In a childish bad-tempered way about small things
  • adverb
  • /ˈpɛtɪʃli/
translation icon : irritablemente
  • "No, there isn't," Beth said pettishly, wanting to tell Ellen all about the psychic, wanting to tell Pat—had that been just a few hours ago?
  • said pettishly

Examples

  • "You used override priority?" he said pettishly.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • "I don't know that yet, do I?" his twin snapped pettishly.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • She answered the question pettishly, annoyed that no one seemed to understand her frustration.

  • After being asked to clean her room again, the child pettishly threw her toys aside.

  • He pouted pettishly when he was not chosen for the team, showing his disappointment clearly.

Synonyms

irritably
vspettishly
8 4.1

In an annoyed or impatient way

is more childlike and petty in its irritability
petulantly
vspettishly
2 8.1

In a childish, annoyed way that shows impatience

is the same childlike irritation especially over small things
testily
vspettishly
1 7.6

In a short angry way that shows you are annoyed

is more childishly sulky rather than just briefly annoyed
peevishly
vspettishly
1 8.1

In an annoyed, grumpy way

is similar but stresses childish, small-thing annoyance more
grumpily
vspettishly
1 3.0

In a bad mood and speaking or acting in an unhappy way

is like sulkiness but more childishly petty and reactive
churlishly
vspettishly
  • Formal
1 9.5

In a rude or unfriendly way

is less about rudeness and more about childish, irritable sulking
tetchily
vspettishly
  • UK
9.9

In an easily annoyed way

is more childish and sulky rather than merely touchy
waspishly
vspettishly
8.4

In an angry, sharp way that shows someone is annoyed

is more childish sulkiness rather than sharp, biting tone
poutingly
vspettishly
8.9

In a way that shows someone is upset by pushing the lips forward

is similar but focuses more on childish bad temper overall
crankily
vspettishly
6.0

In a bad-tempered, easily annoyed way

is grumpiness with a more childish, small-issue focus
grouchily
vspettishly
5.8

In a bad mood and complaining

is similar but places more weight on childish spite over small things
crabbily
vspettishly
7.0

In a bad mood and easily annoyed

is more about childish, small-issue annoyance than general grumpiness
pettily
vspettishly
7.8

Behaving in a mean way about unimportant things

is more about childish sulking and mood than deliberate spite

Antonyms

110 1.0

In a calm, steady way without showing anger or nervousness

75 1.9

In a calm way without getting angry while waiting

How Irritable

furiously
38 3.0
angrily
58 1.0
pettishly
8.6
irritably
8 4.1
calmly
110 1.0

Surface Forms

pettishly positive

Morphology

pettishly = pettish (transparent) = pettish + ly

The adverb 'pettishly' is transparently derived from the adjective 'pettish' by adding the suffix '-ly', indicating manner.

Etymology

Pettishly comes from an old use of pet that meant 'favorite' or a 'spoiled' child or animal, so someone acting pettishly behaves like a grumpy, spoiled pet who is easily annoyed by small things. That's why pettishly means to be 'childishly bad-tempered' over little matters.