Petulance is childish irritability or bad-tempered impatience, especially over something minor. When someone shows petulance, they're being cranky and difficult about things that don't really matter much.

Picture a student who groans loudly and crosses their arms because the teacher assigned homework on a Friday, or someone who snaps at their friend for accidentally bumping into them in the hallway. That's petulant behavior: overreacting with annoyance to small frustrations. A petulant person might sulk when they don't get their way, roll their eyes dramatically when asked to wait their turn, or complain constantly about trivial inconveniences.

The word carries a tone of immaturity. While everyone feels frustrated sometimes, petulance means expressing that frustration in a whiny, immature way instead of handling it calmly. A five-year-old throwing a tantrum about bedtime is expected; a teenager responding to reasonable requests with the same huffing and pouting is petulant.

You might hear someone described as having a petulant tone when they sound annoyed and childish. Recognizing petulance in yourself can help you see the difference between saying “I'm disappointed but I understand” and stomping off in a huff.