definitions

peeve

[ peev ]
/ piv /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR peeve ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), peeved, peev·ing.

to render peevish; annoy.

noun

a source of annoyance or irritation: Tardiness is one of my greatest peeves.
an annoyed or irritated mood: to be in a peeve.

RELATED CONTENT

Comprise vs. ComposeEarlier this year, one intrepid Wikipedia editor made headlines for his remarkable dedication to the mission of purging that website of the phrase “comprised of,” logging approximately 70 to 80 edits per week. This editor, known as Giraffedata, is one of many who hold nonstandard uses of comprise and compose among their top grammatical pet peeves. Today we explore these two terms and the conventions …
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

disturb, exasperate, vex, rile, irk, irritate, gall, annoyance, bother, gripe, pest, nuisance, vexation, aggravate, miff, get, bum, roil, steam, nettle

Nearby words

peeress, peerie, peerless, peerlessly, peetweet, peeve, peeved, peevedly, peevers, peevish, peevishly

Origin of peeve

1905–10, Americanism; back formation from peevish
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for peeve

  • Paste this, Fuscus, in your hat:Not a pesky thing can peeve me.

    A line-o'-verse or two|Bert Leston Taylor

  • Of course I know you don't mean it—you're simply hot and tired, and trying to work off your peeve on me.

    Main Street|Sinclair Lewis

  • Brickbats mingle with bouquetsShied at my devoted cranium.Does it peeve yours truly?

    A line-o'-verse or two|Bert Leston Taylor

British Dictionary definitions for peeve

peeve

/ (piːv) informal /

verb

(tr) to irritate; vex; annoy

noun

something that irritates; vexationit was a pet peeve of his
Derived Formspeeved, adjective

Word Origin for peeve

C20: back formation from peevish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012