peevish

pee·vish

adjective \ˈpē-vish\

Definition of PEEVISH

1

: querulous in temperament or mood : fretful

2

: perversely obstinate <a peevish child>

3

: marked by ill temper

— pee·vish·ly adverb

— pee·vish·ness noun

Examples of PEEVISH

1. peevish patients in the doctor's waiting room
2. <I would rather figure things out on my own than ask that peevish librarian for help.>

Origin of PEEVISH

Middle English pevish spiteful

First Known Use: circa 1530

Related to PEEVISH

Synonyms

choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, fiery, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, irritable, perverse, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, stuffy, testy, waspish

Related Words

bearish, bilious, cantankerous, cross-grained, curmudgeonly, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, off-color (or off-colored), ornery, querulous, snarly, surly; argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, fractious, fretful, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent; huffy, pouty, sensitive, short, sulky, sullen, tetchy, thin-skinned, touchy; hot-blooded, passionate

Near Antonyms

affable, companionable, cordial, extroverted (also extraverted), friendly, genial, gregarious, outgoing, sociable; agreeable, amiable, good-natured, good-tempered, sweet, well-disposed; carefree, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, relaxed; forbearing, long-suffering, obliging, patient, stoic (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining, understanding

Rhymes with PEEVISH

thievish