as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
I would rather figure things out on my own than ask that peevish librarian for help
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Recent Examples of peevish
Rojas’s recollections weren’t peevish—fine work was produced under these conditions.
—
Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The songs are muscular and syncretic as ever, but the normally peevish rapper doesn’t maintain his trolling energy for the full record, settling into a questioning and pensive pace.
—Stephen Kearse, TIME, 8 Dec. 2024
For all that, his Arthur remains a lowly outsider, with a downcast gaze, a peevish temper, and a deep well of melancholy that never feels one-note.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
The preternaturally peevish Pentecostal preacher is back and absent as ever.
—Kristen Baldwin and Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for peevish
Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The songs are muscular and syncretic as ever, but the normally peevish rapper doesn’t maintain his trolling energy for the full record, settling into a questioning and pensive pace.
—Stephen Kearse, TIME, 8 Dec. 2024
For all that, his Arthur remains a lowly outsider, with a downcast gaze, a peevish temper, and a deep well of melancholy that never feels one-note.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024
The preternaturally peevish Pentecostal preacher is back and absent as ever.
—Kristen Baldwin and Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for peevish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peevish
irritable
Adjective
-
But a new wrench is thrown into the works in the form of an irritable downstairs neighbor.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
27 June 2025
-
When a muscle is injured or put under extra stress, myofascial trigger points—basically, irritable spots in the muscle—can form and cause pain.—
Jenny McCoy,
SELF,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Peevish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peevish. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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