What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
peevish
Example
She was peevish all day after getting little sleep. [peevish: adjective]
Example
He became peevish when his plans were disrupted. [peevish: adjective]
cantankerous
Example
The cantankerous old man refused to speak to anyone. [cantankerous: adjective]
Example
She had a cantankerous attitude towards her coworkers. [cantankerous: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Peevish is more commonly used than cantankerous in everyday language. Peevish is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while cantankerous is less common and may be considered more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between peevish and cantankerous?
Cantankerous is generally considered more formal or literary than peevish. While both words can be used in various formality levels, cantankerous may be more appropriate in formal writing or speech.
