peeve

[ peev ]

See 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.

Origin of peeve

1905–10, Americanism; back formation from peevish

Other words for peeve

2	vexation, affliction, grievance

See synonyms for peeve on Thesaurus.com

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use peeve in a sentence

We know his gestures, his tics, his pet peeves, and his turn-ons.
He’s Still Older, Even in the Moonlight: Woody Allen’s May-December Romances Inspire Scrutiny | Teo Bugbee | July 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A lot of my pet peeves, by the way, have to do with being unoriginal so I would say that's a top pet peeve as well.
Feeling Good About Yourself? | A.J. Jacobs | April 23, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
The applejack had worked enough on Joe for him to rise against one of his pet peeves.
Mercenary | Dallas McCord Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for peeve

peeve

/ (piːv) informal /

verb

(tr) to irritate; vex; annoy

noun

something that irritates; vexation: it was a pet peeve of his

Origin of peeve

C20: back formation from peevish

Derived forms of peeve

peeved, adjective

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

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