PETTISH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pettish mean? 

• PETTISH (adjective)
  The adjective PETTISH has 1 sense:

1. easily irritated or annoyed

  Familiarity information: PETTISH used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PETTISH (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Easily irritated or annoyed

Synonyms:

cranky; fractious; irritable; nettlesome; peckish; peevish; pettish; petulant; scratchy; techy; testy; tetchy

Context example:

not the least nettlesome of his countrymen

Similar:

ill-natured (having an irritable and unpleasant disposition)

Derivation:

pettishness (a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger)

 Context examples 

But as I had none but passing thoughts for any subject save Dora, I glanced at her, directly afterwards, and was thinking that I saw, in her prettily pettish manner, that she was not very much inclined to be particularly confidential to her companion and protector, when a bell rang, which Mr. Spenlow said was the first dinner-bell, and so carried me off to dress.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Oh, dear me! cried my mother, turning from one of us to the other, in her pettish wilful manner, what a troublesome world this is, when one has the most right to expect it to be as agreeable as possible!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)