Definitions
- Describing a person who is easily annoyed or provoked. - Referring to a state of being easily agitated or frustrated. - Talking about a mood characterized by impatience, short temper, or sensitivity.
- Describing a person who is easily irritated or annoyed. - Referring to a state of being in a bad mood or temper. - Talking about a mood characterized by petulance, sullenness, or ill-temper.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a person's negative emotional state.
- 2Both words suggest a tendency to be easily annoyed or provoked.
- 3Both words can be used to describe a temporary mood or a persistent personality trait.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Irritable suggests a stronger emotional reaction than peevish.
- 2Duration: Irritable can describe a temporary state or a persistent personality trait, while peevish is more commonly used to describe a temporary mood.
- 3Connotation: Irritable is more neutral in connotation, while peevish has a slightly negative connotation.
- 4Usage: Irritable is more commonly used in everyday language, while peevish is less common and more formal.
Remember this!
Irritable and peevish are synonyms that describe a person's negative emotional state, suggesting a tendency to be easily annoyed or provoked. However, irritable is more intense and can describe both a temporary mood and a persistent personality trait, while peevish is more commonly used to describe a temporary mood and has a slightly negative connotation.
