peeve 1 of 2

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
Seeing cooks walk back and forth to their pantry is one of Roger’s top peeves. Marni Jameson, Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2024 During his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden reached for one of his top recent peeves: shrinkflation. Alina Selyukh, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
Needless to say, the women are more than peeved, and Rob can read the energy in the room. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 23 Jan. 2025 Sandler, peeved, isn’t buying it. William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for peeve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peeve
Noun
  • Read More: The 9 Most Underrated Healthy Foods Flavorings and additives Natural fruit compounds, artificial colorants, and tannins in wine can cause headaches, GI symptoms, or hives in sensitive people.
    Lauryn Higgins, Time, 22 July 2025
  • His salary: $760,000. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages have dealt the Padres numerous headaches.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • Your job should challenge you—not drain you to the point of resentment.
    Sherry Taylor, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
  • Bing had complained of harassment and left behind a manifesto filled with resentment.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • That acquisition annoyed shareholders and customers alike, with investors taking issue with the fact that it was structured to avoid a vote.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 July 2025
  • However, in addition to the controversy over self-grading the results, OpenAI also annoyed the IMO community because its Saturday announcement appears to have violated the embargo agreement with the International Mathematical Olympiad.
    Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • Last month, Los Angeles city officials declared these properties a public nuisance because of their failure to take action to clean up debris.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
  • The cicadas swarming in and around Cincinnati can be a nuisance.
    Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • Detroit’s offense Thursday will be paced by backup quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 July 2025
  • And Dylan Cease has been the topic of trade discussions, as the Padres attempt to bolster their offense but are said by multiple sources to need to free up payroll space to do so.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2025
Verb
  • That question also bugs the folks at The Utility Reform Network.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 31 July 2025
  • Advertisement Advertisement Code of Silence (BritBox) In this UK drama, police tracking a criminal organization that meets in locations that can’t be bugged recruit a deaf canteen employee, Alison Brooks (Rose Ayling-Ellis), to read suspects’ lips in surveillance videos.
    Judy Berman, Time, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Presidents of both parties complained about judges blocking policies nationwide Nationwide injunctions have been a thorn in the side of presidential administrations of both parties.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 22 July 2025
  • Those critics may or may not prove to be a thorn in O’Brien’s side.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Getty Images To date, the post has amassed more than 900 comments from TikTok viewers, many of them poking fun at the golden retriever mother's annoyed expression and shallow huffs.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
  • The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Peeve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peeve. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on peeve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!