What does miffiness mean?
Miffiness is a word for the feeling of being annoyed, hurt, or sulky, particularly when a disappointment or perceived slight seems important to you. It is more specific than general irritation because it often implies wounded pride or an expectation of special treatment. The term is usually informal and can sound gently teasing when describing a child or someone who is being playful, while retaining a more critical tone when describing habitual or excessive sensitivity. In conversation, one might say that a child is showing miffiness after losing a turn, or that someone has recovered from a fit of miffiness. The word belongs mainly to British and American informal English and is less common in formal writing. Its usefulness lies in capturing a familiar human reaction: taking a small setback personally and withdrawing behind a sulk rather than openly expressing anger.
nounMiffiness is the state of being miffed: excessively annoyed, hurt, or sulky, especially over a minor perceived slight. It is commonly used in informal speech to describe a person whose feelings have been wounded by a small disappointment.
- The state of being annoyed, resentful, or sulky, especially because of a slight or disappointment.
"Her miffiness over the rearranged seating disappeared as soon as she was invited to choose the dessert."
"There was a bout of miffiness when she realized the last pastry had been taken."
"The children quickly recovered from their miffiness once they were allowed outside."
Rare; miffiness is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The two episodes of miffinesses were widely reported by the school."
Miffiness names the very specific phenomenon of being wounded to the point of sulking over something that may seem trivial to everyone else.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does miffiness come from?
Miffiness is derived from miffy, an informal adjective and verb meaning sulky or annoyed. The deeper origin of miffy is uncertain, although it appears in English by the 19th century and is related to older forms such as miff. The related verb miff continues to express a desire to be left alone in a sulking mood, while the adverb miffily describes an irritated or sulky manner.
Related word forms
How miffiness is actually used
Informal and mildly disapproving; it is often used to describe sulking or a tendency to take minor disappointments personally.