Petulances

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state of being irritable or easily annoyed, often associated with childish behavior
2. A tendency to display sudden mood swings or sulking, reflecting immaturity
3. The quality of being cranky or peevish, indicative of one’s impatience or frustration

Etymology: "Petulances" is the plural of "petulance," so it is simply the word in its plural form, used when referring to several separate outbursts of petulance. "Petulance" itself entered English in the 1600s, borrowed from the French "pétulance," which came from the Latin "petulantia," meaning wantonness or insolence. The Latin root is "petulans," from "petere," to strive or attack, and the sense softened over time from aggressive impudence toward the sulky, childish irritability the word describes today.

Synonyms: irritability, pettishness, peevishness, testiness, fretfulness

Antonyms: calmness, composure, serenity, equanimity, tranquility