peeve 1 of 2

noun

Definition of peevenext
1
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation my main peeve with the animal welfare organization is the endless stream of unsolicited trinkets in my mailbox

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in resentment
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity he holds on to a peeve until the offending person apologizes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

peeve

2 of 2

verb

ˈpēv How to pronounce peeve (audio)
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts she is constantly peeved by his habit of humming show tunes while she is trying to focus on her work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
Among his litany of peeves is that, because arXiv has seen a surge in submissions in recent times, especially in the AI category, the number of low-quality papers has followed a similar curve—and arXiv has nowhere near enough volunteers to vet them all. —Sheon Han, Wired News, 27 Mar. 2025 The recent columns about viewers’ TV peeves have generated a lot of mail, including this letter. —Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
But whenever Will is peeving about something or getting in the way of the kids' fun, things just seem a little less gleeful. —Marc Snetiker, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Oct. 2025 With his far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, sitting in the front row, Netanyahu took the stage, looking a little peeved, and berated the event’s organizers for muddling his slide show. —Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for peeve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peeve
  1. headache
  2. resentment
  3. annoy
  4. nuisance
  5. offense
  6. bug
  7. thorn
  8. huff
Noun
  • Symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or a severe headache could signal a medical emergency.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain, body aches, headache and fever.
    — Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of headache
Noun
  • In the latter years of the Roman Republic, landowners amassed unprecedented riches while plebeians floundered, spawning resentment that infected many corners of society.
    — Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Scream 4’s greatest coup is in casting Emma Roberts, niece of one of the most famous actors of all time, which gives Jill’s resentment toward being born into her family a thrilling subtext.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of resentment
Verb
  • Last Sunday, the broadcast showed a perplexed, annoyed Wells who thought his team went missing.
    — Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Nevertheless, Jude would be annoyed.
    — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Definition of annoy
Noun
  • Broadway was also found to have violated probation on three occasions, stemming from his conviction on a Level 6 felony of maintaining a common nuisance and drug possession from his arrest in June 2024.
    — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Excessively loud vehicles has become a common nuisance across Austin, but a group of West Austin neighbors have pushed the city to take action.
    — Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of nuisance
Noun
  • The question heading into the Division II final was whether King/Drew could slow Sylmar’s up-tempo offense, which had scored more than 90 points 11 times and more than 100 four times.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Cox was on trial for two counts of possession of child pornography in the second offense earlier in February.
    — Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
Definition of offense
Verb
  • And also, Bill has to be home and also not bugging me.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Clara could hear Dune’s sister, Fern, in the background bugging Dune to resume their chess game.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Definition of bug
Noun
  • Burchett, along with Mace, Luna, and other conservative Republicans, is frequently a thorn in the side of congressional leadership and sees the panel as a platform for their legislative priorities.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 26 Feb. 2026
  • So that was the rose, here's the thorn.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of thorn
Noun
  • Among agonized grunts and huffs, Probst narrated the fumbles.
    — Sarah Grant, New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2026
  • David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.
    — Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Definition of huff

Phrases Containing peeve

Browse Nearby Words

peers (at)
peeve
peeved
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Cite this Entry

“Peeve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peeve. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of peeve for Spanish Speakers

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