Huffily
Adverb describing an action or manner done in a resentful, offended, or sulky way. It conveys a sense of displeasure, often expressed through a short temper or a show of indignation. The person acting huffily might be visibly annoyed, speak in a clipped tone, or retreat from the situation. It implies a feeling of being slighted or unfairly treated, even if the perceived offense is minor. The behavior is often a reaction to frustration or disagreement, marked by a lack of openness to reason or compromise, and the emphasis on perceived offenses. It frequently involves a display of petulance and is often employed to show your hurt feelings.
Huffily meaning with examples
- After being asked to take out the trash, little Timmy crossed his arms and marched huffily towards the kitchen, slamming the lid of the bin on the way. He felt slighted even though he could understand the reasons for the request. The expression on his face made his parents feel like they had made him run to the kitchen instead of asked him.
- The politician responded huffily to the reporter's challenging question, refusing to elaborate further and dismissing the inquiry as biased. He had been asked something he did not want to address and saw the question as an attack on his reputation, even if he was not really threatened by the query. The short tone suggested an effort to escape scrutiny.
- When her friend canceled their lunch plans at the last minute, Sarah put her phone down and spoke huffily, 'Well, fine! I guess I'll just eat alone then.' It was more of a display to ensure her friend knew she was being treated as if she was unimportant and easy to abandon, even if it was an important matter.
- The customer huffily demanded to speak to the manager after a minor error was made on his bill, exaggerating the situation and treating the wait staff as if they had wronged him personally, even if the error could be easily fixed. He wanted the manager to recognize his anger instead of letting him resolve the problem with his employee.