Soon the boys realised his peevish ways and began to avoid him.

Solution (By Examveda Team)

Peevish : having or showing an irritable disposition.
Amiable : having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
Unpleasant : causing discomfort, unhappiness, or revulsion; disagreeable.
Snappish : (of a dog) irritable and inclined to bite.
Authoritative : able to be trusted as being accurate or true; reliable.

Antonym of Peevish is Amiable