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peevishness

peevishness

1 7.3
A tendency to become easily annoyed and impatient
  • noun
  • /ˈpiːvɪʃnəs/
translation icon : irritabilidad
  • Despite his efforts to stay calm, her peevishness made every small issue feel monumental.

His first part of this discussion makes a distinction between what he calls passion and peevishness.

Examples

  • The other takeaway from last night was how, for the last two debates, Obama really had that edgy peevishness that is characteristic of the most effective high-level manager you know.

    Blog text (24)
  • Causes of Peevishness (2)

    Blog text (30)
  • And not even apologizing for your own peevishness.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Causes of Peevishness - (1)

    Blog text (30)
  • If you are subject to passion or peevishness, these are the things that can, you know, produce the outbursts or incidents of, of anger.

  • Darling, didn't anyone ever tell you that peevishness is unbecoming in a young lady?

  • What's wrong now?" His brows came together as though her peevishness was an unexpected nutshell his teeth had found and crunched.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • True, except Mittens seems more like a pussy... even Newsweek came across and just called him a pussy with his constant whining, peevishness, and rules lawyering.

    Blog text (20)
  • We've barely seen the beginning of this, just a little peevishness embodied by yeast shaman figures such as Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck.

    Blog text (15)
  • Her peevishness was evident when she snapped at her friend for being late.

Synonyms

temper
vspeevishness
237 3.6

A sudden short burst of anger

is about frequent small irritations and impatience, not outbursts
irritability
vspeevishness
8 4.2

Being easily annoyed or quick to become angry

adds a sense of impatience and minor irritations
petulance
vspeevishness
5 9.0

Being easily annoyed and acting childish

is similar but without the childish sulking quality
crankiness
vspeevishness
3 6.0

Being easily annoyed and acting in odd, fussy ways

is focused on simple irritation without eccentric fussiness
grumpiness
vspeevishness
3 4.1

A feeling of being easily annoyed

is less surly and more about small annoyances and impatience
surliness
vspeevishness
1 7.7

A way of behaving that is angry and unfriendly

is less hostile and more about minor irritations
edginess
vspeevishness
1 6.0

A feeling of nervousness and tension that makes you easily annoyed

is simple irritation rather than anxiety-driven nervousness
crossness
vspeevishness
1 8.1

Being slightly angry or annoyed

is more about quick annoyance and impatience
crabbiness
vspeevishness
1 5.5

A mood of being easily annoyed and bad-tempered

focuses more on short, easily triggered annoyance
grouchiness
vspeevishness
1 4.0

A state of being easily annoyed and in a bad mood

emphasizes short annoyance episodes rather than a lasting bad mood
fussiness
vspeevishness
1 5.7

A state of being easily upset or hard to please

centres on irritation and impatience more than picky behaviour
snappishness
vspeevishness
1 8.5

A habit of giving short, angry answers when annoyed

covers general irritation and impatience, not just sharp speech
orneriness
vspeevishness
  • Informal
1 9.9

Being easily annoyed, stubborn, and hard to get along with

focuses on quick annoyance without strong stubbornness
tetchiness
vspeevishness
  • UK
9.2

A tendency to become easily annoyed and show anger

stresses impatience as well as quick irritation
pettishness
vspeevishness
9.0

Being easily annoyed and angry about small things in a childish way

covers general irritation and impatience beyond pettiness
crabbedness
vspeevishness
9.9

Often being bad-tempered and hard to please

is mainly about quick annoyance rather than constant ill temper
fretfulness
vspeevishness
7.7

A feeling of being nervous, annoyed, or easily upset

is more about sharp irritation than anxious unease
querulousness
vspeevishness
9.9

A habit of complaining often

is about quick annoyance rather than ongoing complaining
snappiness
vspeevishness
4.4

A person who is easily annoyed and speaks in short, sharp words

is about general irritability beyond brief sharp replies
spikiness
vspeevishness
7.4

A rude, sharp way of speaking that shows anger or impatience

is broader, covering irritation feelings not only blunt tone
crotchetiness
vspeevishness
  • UK
9.9

A tendency to be odd, fussy, or easily annoyed

is about being easily annoyed rather than being eccentric

Antonyms

511 1.3

To stay calm and not get annoyed when things take time

A kind, friendly attitude that wants to help others

How Irritable

irascibility
  • Formal
1 9.3
petulance
5 9.0
testiness
1 7.3
peevishness
1 7.3
irritation
27 3.6

Surface Forms

peevishness singular
peevishnesses plural

Morphology

peevishness = peevish (transparent) = peeve + ish + ness

The noun is a standard nominalization of the adjective 'peevish' formed with '-ness', and the adjective itself is transparently derived from 'peeve' with '-ish'.

Etymology

Peevishness comes from the small word peeve (a little 'annoyance') plus the endings -ish and -ness, which turn it into the 'state' of being that way. So peevishness is the quality or habit of being easily annoyed or quick to feel irritated.