peeve 1 of 2

peeve

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word peeve different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of peeve are exasperate, irritate, nettle, provoke, and rile. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

In what contexts can exasperate take the place of peeve?

In some situations, the words exasperate and peeve are roughly equivalent. However, exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

When can irritate be used instead of peeve?

Although the words irritate and peeve have much in common, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

When might nettle be a better fit than peeve?

The words nettle and peeve can be used in similar contexts, but nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

When would provoke be a good substitute for peeve?

While the synonyms provoke and peeve are close in meaning, provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

When is it sensible to use rile instead of peeve?

The synonyms rile and peeve are sometimes interchangeable, but rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of peeve
Noun
Trump’s taunts and global peeves aired during a stream-of-consciousness news conference included criticism of President Biden for ordering an offshore oil drilling ban along most U.S. coastlines two weeks before his successor’s Inauguration. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025 It’s further reported that according to an unnamed OpenAI executive — which really peeves CEOs — that the new large language model is 100 times more powerful than GPT-4 and is likely to be combined with other LLMs such as 01, which launched in September. Tor Constantino, Mba, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
Continue reading … DEMANDING ANSWERS – Top Democrats peeved over $8B Paramount-Skydance merger, citing Trump influence. FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2025 Snitker was a bit peeved at the implication that his team had little to play for but pride. David O'Brien, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for peeve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peeve
Noun
  • Regardless of the scheduling headache, there's still no indication the funding bill would pass, unless Republicans and Democrats can strike a deal on health care.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
  • In the year before his death, Thomas had been struggling with his mental health, as well as daily headaches and memory loss, his parents said at the time.
    Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The universal hatred comes from the child star’s coevals, whose curiosity about the occupation is mingled with resentment.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Left in its wake are rising societal resentments and an ever-increasing wealth gap.
    Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ball doesn’t seem annoyed by the memes yet, but the NBA season hasn’t officially started, so there’s still time.
    Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
  • He was annoyed when people advocated that.
    Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Lorincz, who is white, hated loud noise, and called police and first responders multiple times over the years claiming the children were trespassing, bothersome, threatening, and a nuisance.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Establishing a track record of violations could potentially help the city in future civil suits brought against the Eco Motel, or any other property considered a nuisance.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Is the Shanahan offense now a gap-scheme team?
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
  • He has been missed badly within the Raiders' offense.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Chinch bugs overwinter in moist, deep thatch.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Co-worker bugging you during heads down time?
    Sam Woodward, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Often a thorn in the side of leadership, Massie is unlikely to strike any deal with leadership to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Buds will fail to open properly, and some of the canes will have multitudes of thorns.
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Lloyd evaded a diving Mahomes, Kareem Hunt and a streaking Tyquan Thornton for a huff-and-puff 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Peeve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peeve. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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