skeeve

[ skeev ]

noun

1. Also skeever. an immoral or repulsive person.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause disgust in (often followed by out ):

   This place is so full of mold that it really skeeves me out.

2. to be disgusted by:

   people who skeeve public restrooms.

verb (used without object)

1. to cause disgust or feel disgusted:

   The mess just made me skeeve.

Word History and Origins

Origin of skeeve¹

Back formation from skeevy

More About Skeeve

What does skeeve mean?

Skeeve is slang that means to cause disgust and is often followed by out, as in The mess in my bedroom really skeeves my mother out.

Skeeve also means to be disgusted, as in Mia is skeeved by how politics works.

Something that skeeves you makes you feel disgusted, revolted, or shocked. When you’re skeeved, you might cringe, get an uneasy feeling, or become nauseous.

A skeeve is a person who is considered immoral or repulsive. Such a person is sometimes called a skeever. The term is used as an insult toward someone you find to be morally reprehensible or literally repulsive, as in appearance or smell. The term is occasionally used to insult animals as well.

Example: Luna was so skeeved by the school’s bathrooms that she wouldn’t use them.

Where does skeeve come from?

The first records of the term skeeve come from around the 1980s. It is a back formation of the adjective skeevy, a slang term that probably comes from the Italian schifo, meaning “disgust.”

Skeeve is used less often than the slang term skeevy, which means “slovenly,” or “immoral.” People that are described as skeevy could also be called skeeves, and when someone describes a place or object as skeevy, they could say that it skeeves them out or that they skeeve it.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to skeeve?

• skeever (noun)

What are some synonyms for skeeve?

• disgust
• disturb
• nauseate
• sicken

What are some words that share a root or word element with skeeve? 

• skeevy
• skeezy

What are some words that often get used in discussing skeeve?

• dirty
• neglect
• repulse
• rude

How is skeeve used in real life?

Skeeve is often used to describe feeling disgusted but is also used as an insult.

there's a lizard outside the window sticking its bulgy throat out at me and winking like a skeeve someone come collect it

— Daniel José Older (@djolder) August 2, 2020

You know, I've always had this petty thing I do where (for the most part) I kinda skeeve celebrities who are the children of other celebrities, or whose rich parents otherwise gave them some kind of a leg up. I rarely say it out loud, because of how petty it sounds.

— Robyn Pennacchia (@RobynElyse) March 13, 2019

Milk mustaches skeeve me out.

— Jenny Hart (@jennyjhart) February 11, 2015

Try using skeeve!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for skeeve?

A. disgust
B. attract
C. revolt
D. sicken