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Peeved vs Peevish - What's the difference?

peeved | peevish |

As a verb peeved

is (peeve).

As an adjective peevish is

constantly complaining; fretful, whining.

peeved

English

Verb

(head)
  • (peeve)

    • peeve

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An annoyance or grievance.

    • Verb

    (peev)
  • To annoy; vex.
    • He was peeved to note that his work had been undone.

    See also

    * pet peeve

    peevish

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l) (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Constantly complaining; fretful, whining.
  • * , King Henry V , act 3, scene 7:
    • Orleans: What a wretched and peevish fellow is this king of England, to mope with his fat-brained followers so far out of his knowledge!
  • * 1813 , , Pride and Prejudice , ch. 41:
    • [T]he luckless Kitty continued in the parlour repining at her fate in terms as unreasonable as her accent was peevish .
  • * 1917 , , "The Mixer" in The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories :
    • At first he was quite peevish . "What's the idea," he said, "coming and spoiling a man's beauty-sleep? Get out."

    Derived terms

    * peevishly * peevishness