pevish

Adjective

peevish (comparative more peevish, superlative most peevish)

1. Constantly complaining, especially in a childish way due to insignificant matters; fretful, whiny.
   • Due to the long wait, there were several peevish patients in the doctor’s waiting room.

   Antonyms:

   unpeevish

2. Quick to become bad-tempered or cross, especially due to insignificant matters; irritable, pettish, petulant.
   • I would rather figure things out on my own than ask that peevish librarian for help.

   Synonyms:

   querulous, atrabilious, bad-tempered, bilious, bitchy, brainish, cantankerous, carnaptious, choleric, crabbit

   Antonyms:

   unpeevish

3. (Canada, Northern England, figuratively) Of weather: blustery, windy; also, of wind: cold and strong; bitter, sharp.
   • Serene he bears the peeviſh eaſtern blaſt, / And uninfected breaths the mortal South.1744, John Armstrong, “Book III. Exercise.”, in The Art of Preserving Health: A Poem, […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 63, lines 30–31
4. (obsolete) Coy, modest.
5. (obsolete) Foolish, silly.
   • VVhy vvhat a peeuiſh Foole vvas that of Creet [i.e., Daedalus], / That taught his Sonne [Icarus] the office of a Fovvle, / And yet for all his vvings, the Foole vvas drovvn'd.c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard...
6. (obsolete) Harmful, injurious; also, mischievous; or malicious, spiteful.
   • [The Scots] brent ſome of the English Shippes. With the which victory, they were ſo inflamed with pride, that in deriſion of the king, they made certaine peeuiſhe and mocking rymes vvhich I paſſe ouer.1569, Richard Grafton, “The Seuenth Age, and Seuenth Part of this Chronicle. Edwarde the First.”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume I, London: […]...

   Synonyms:

   harmful, damaging, deleterious, detrimental, hurtful, inimical, injurious, mischievous, nocent, nocuous

See all 12 meanings of peevish