querulously
querulously — adverb
1. spoken or done in a complaining tone that expresses annoyance, often with a high
spoken or done in a complaining tone that expresses annoyance, often with a high, thin voice
Ziad complained querulously, insisting that the soup was far too salty.
The old dog looked up querulously when Heather tried to move his sleeping blanket.
adverb modifying non-human subject's action
'I never get to pick where we eat for dinner,' Tara said querulously.
Ezra answered every question querulously, unhappy that the meeting had run so long.
The letter was written querulously, listing every small fault the author had noticed.
- peevishly
more general, can describe any irritable behaviour, not just voice
- plaintively
suggests sadness or sorrow more than irritation
- fretfully
implies worry or anxiety alongside the complaint
- grumblingly
less formal, suggests low, ongoing complaint rather than a high-pitched tone
- cheerfully
opposite in both tone and attitude
- contentedly
opposite in emotional state
文法句型
querulously + verb of speaking
verb + querulously
用法筆記
Typically modifies verbs of speaking or complaining (said, complained, asked, answered, wrote). Used in formal or literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. The word carries a mildly negative judgement on the speaker's attitude.