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Peevish vs Irritable - What's the difference?

peevish | irritable |

As adjectives the difference between peevish and irritable

is that peevish is constantly complaining; fretful, whining while irritable is capable of being irritated.

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

    irritable

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Capable of being irritated.
  • Easily exasperated or excited.
  • Responsive to stimuli.

    • Derived terms

    * irritably * irritability * irritable bowel syndrome