pettish

[ pet-ish ]

adjective

1. petulantly peevish:

   a pettish refusal.

pettish

/ ˈpɛtɪʃ /

adjective

1. peevish; petulant

   a pettish child

Derived Forms

• ˈpettishly, adverb
• ˈpettishness, noun

Other Words From

• pettish·ly adverb
• pettish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pettish¹

First recorded in 1585–95; pet ², -ish ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pettish¹

C16: from pet ²

Example Sentences

Well, then, it won't do for you to come and be pettish here because you have seen a man in my box.

From Project Gutenberg

This morning angry a little in the morning, and my house being so much out of order makes me a little pettish.

From Project Gutenberg

His tone was pettish and he stooped down and began to toss splinters and broken boards upon the woodpile.

From Project Gutenberg

My father, as anybody may naturally imagine, came down with my mother into the country, in but a pettish kind of a humour.

From Project Gutenberg

She soothed the lovelorn and pettish damsel with every expression that could gratify pride and rouse high thoughts of revenge.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• delicate
• dicey
• hypersensitive
• jumpy
• precarious
• risky
• sensitive
• testy
• ticklish
• tricky
• uptight
• volatile