Huffy describes someone who's acting annoyed, offended, or sulky, usually over something relatively small. When your friend gets huffy because you picked a different partner for the science project, they might cross their arms, speak in short sentences, and act wounded. A person being huffy isn't screaming or crying; they're showing their displeasure through pouty silence, sharp responses, or an exaggerated air of being wronged.

The word captures that particular mood where someone feels slighted and wants you to know it, but won't quite say so directly. A student might stomp out of the room in a huff after being corrected. Someone might respond in a huffy tone when asked to take out the trash, making their irritation obvious through their voice and body language.

Being huffy can make small problems feel bigger. Instead of saying “I'm disappointed” or “That hurt my feelings,” a huffy person shows their upset through behavior, which can be tiring for everyone around them and make it harder to solve the real issue.