peeve 1 of 2

Definition of peevenext

peeve

2 of 2

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
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
Noun
  • The illness tends to come on abruptly, with symptoms including fever, sore throat, headaches and fatigue.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • And the government’s insistence that Iranians must make sacrifices for distant causes breeds resentment rather than unity.
    Kamran Talattof, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Juggling careers and kids takes a toll on families, and housework often is fraught with resentments over who is doing it.
    Tracee M. Herbaugh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • There is no sound, and Helen begins to get annoyed.
    Sadia Shepard, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Luis is frankly annoyed by this type of music.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Aside from being a general nuisance with their ferocious snores, pungent odors and growls, bears can do serious damage to a home.
    Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
  • There’s a world in which Minus One is disquieting, where the nuisance of who started that war is totally lost and instead we’re treated to a nationalistic uprising.
    James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Edmunds is pointing to veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford's experience, saying the Super Bowl champ has seen everything, and the message is going to be to execute against an offense that scored the most points in the league this season.
    Jori Parys, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Both offenses opened up in the second.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • That thing’s been bugging on him for a while.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Check the head and base and foot of the bed, peeling back the top sheet to look for evidence on mattress covers, box springs, dust ruffles, and the headboard—and most importantly, the mattress seams and piping because bed bugs like to hide in cracks and crevices.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Make sure to wear leather gloves to protect your hands from rose thorns.
    Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Season 1 detailed how Robby—a crinkle-eyed stalwart whose stethoscope seems made of thorns—was still suffering from PTSD from his experiences working during the coronavirus pandemic, while a violent attack from a patient made the otherwise flinty Dana reconsider whether her job was still bearable.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • As much as Payton bristles about media storylines and huffs about tempo questions, the Broncos went 25 minutes without a first down against Las Vegas.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 Nov. 2025
  • After 36 minutes of cagey huff-and-puff, Arsenal’s clean-sheet record was spoiled again in game nine of their run, though, as in 1903, their undefeatedness in that stretch was to remain intact.
    Michael Walker, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Peeve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peeve. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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