as in problem
US
something that annoys or bothers a person very much
One of my biggest pet peeves is people driving too slowly on the highway.
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Recent Examples of pet peeve
Hands down, the best feature of this jacket is the Life Pocket, which is designed to keep phones at a full battery throughout the day—a feature any skier will appreciate since an empty battery at the end of a ski day is a common pet peeve.
—
Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025
Her pet peeve in employees, meanwhile, is those who process, rather than think of ways to meaningfully contribute.
—Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025
This uncomfortable truth sharpened recently when a friend shared her pet peeve about cell phones on the table when dining out with companions.
—Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
Wherever Walnut is a beautiful rosy nude that doesn't pull orange on me (my pet peeve).
—Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pet peeve
Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025
Her pet peeve in employees, meanwhile, is those who process, rather than think of ways to meaningfully contribute.
—Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025
This uncomfortable truth sharpened recently when a friend shared her pet peeve about cell phones on the table when dining out with companions.
—Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
Wherever Walnut is a beautiful rosy nude that doesn't pull orange on me (my pet peeve).
—Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pet peeve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pet peeve
Noun
-
This was the problem with conjuring my mother.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Rising to the #1 spot signals strong business fundamentals, consumer trust and a product that genuinely solves a modern pet owner’s problem.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At a recent seven-hour legislative meeting, Nevadans complained to lawmakers about the noise data centers produce, and their worries about how the centers will affect water supply and energy bills.—
Jessica Hill,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Memories of the pandemic and worries about crime were still fresh, and the 120,000-square-foot building was vacant.—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pet peeve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pet%20peeve. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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