Search Dictionary
Definition of peevish

peevish

/ˈpiː.vɪʃ/
pee · vish
Adverb:peevishly
JUMP TO:

peevish Lexical Profile

peevish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Easily irritated, annoyed, or angered, especially by trivial matters; fretful, petulant, or bad-tempered.

Example

"Lack of sleep made the toddler unusually peevish and difficult to soothe throughout the afternoon."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for peevish
Antonyms
View all antonyms for peevish

• Rhymes for peevish

• Nearby Words

peerless
peeve
peeved
peevish
peevishly
peevishness
peewee

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 14th century as Middle English pevish ('perverse, obstinate, or spiteful'), a word of uncertain origin. The common modern verb and noun 'peeve' arose in the early 20th century as a back-formation from peevish.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Peevish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/peevish
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.