Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Peevish; sulky.
  • adjective Arrogant; insolent.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Swaggering; hectoring.
  • Petulant; ill-humored.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Disposed to be blustering or arrogant; petulant.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Disposed to be blustering or arrogant; petulant.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective sullen or moody

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

huff +‎ -ish

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Examples

  • Mrs Pipchin; who, without carrying it in to Mr Dombey, had taken upon herself to return what Miss Nipper called a huffish answer, on her own responsibility.

    Dombey and Son 2007

  • Susan was unusually emphatic and destitute of punctuation in her discourse on this night, which was the night of Mr Dombey's being brought home, because, having been sent downstairs by Florence to inquire after him, she had been obliged to deliver her message to her mortal enemy Mrs Pipchin; who, without carrying it in to Mr Dombey, had taken upon herself to return what Miss Nipper called a huffish answer, on her own responsibility.

    Dombey and Son Charles Dickens 1841

  • Umbo stayed inside the shrine for a while, then came out, acting a little huffish as he gathered up his few things.

    Pathfinder Orson Scott Card 2010

  • As I stood in huffish thought, Deborah came roaring over to me at full volume.

    Dexter in the Dark Lindsay, Jeff 2007

  • As I stood in huffish thought, Deborah came roaring over to me at full volume.

    Dexter in the dark Lindsay, Jeff 2007

  • If any one huffs Rover, (I ain't a very huffish man,) but I can tell you I shew them I don't like it, I let the creature lay at my feet at night, and I feed him myself and fondle him for the sake of him who loved him so.

    Emilie the Peacemaker Mrs. Thomas Geldart

  • "I shall be glad if I can be of any help to you," I answered, still a bit huffish, but bearing no malice.

    Widdershins Oliver [pseud.] Onions 1917

  • Sir Ronald had promised to be content without love; but he was not, and was huffish and offended, and savagely jealous of Reginald Stanford and all the hated past.

    Kate Danton, or, Captain Danton's Daughters A Novel May Agnes Fleming 1860

  • Just look at that, now; you too are getting obstinate and huffish.

    The Comedies of Terence Literally Translated into English Prose, with Notes Terence 1847

  • So, under the protection of Providence, and the mercy of footpads, I trust we shall meet again to-morrow; at all events, there is nothing huffish in this; for, whether sad or merry, I am always,

    Memoirs of the Life of the Rt. Hon. Richard Brinsley Sheridan — Volume 02 Thomas Moore 1815

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