pettishly

Everyday

In a cross, sulky, childish way, as when someone is easily annoyed about small things. tree →

In the lessons

Used in stories to describe how a character speaks or acts: «I don't care!» she said pettishly. Alice in Wonderland uses it for grumpy characters and for Alice herself when she is fed up. It tells the reader the character is behaving like a sulky child.

Examples

• «I won't!» said the little boy pettishly. tree →
• The Duchess answered pettishly. tree →
• She tossed her head pettishly. tree →
• Toad kicked the stone pettishly. tree →
• «Oh, leave me alone,» he said pettishly. tree →
• The spoiled prince waved the servant away pettishly. tree →

Note

Adverb of «pettish» (bad-tempered over small things). Related to «pet» in the old sense «a fit of sulking» («in a pet»). Similar: crossly, sulkily, peevishly.