bilious

[ bil-yuhs ]

adjective

1. Physiology, Pathology. relating to bile or to an excess secretion of bile.
2. Pathology. having, caused by, or attended by trouble with the bile or liver.
3. peevish; irritable; cranky.

   Synonyms: dyspeptic, grouchy, cross, crabby, grumpy

4. extremely unpleasant or distasteful:

   a long scarf of bright, bilious green.

bilious

/ ˈbɪlɪəs /

adjective

1. of or relating to bile
2. affected with or denoting any disorder related to excess secretion of bile
3. informal.
   (esp of colours) extremely distasteful; nauseating

   a bilious green

4. informal.
   bad-tempered; irritable

Derived Forms

• ˈbiliousness, noun

Other Words From

• bil·ious·ly adverb
• bil·ious·ness noun
• non·bil·ious adjective
• non·bil·ious·ly adverb
• non·bil·ious·ness noun
• un·bil·ious adjective
• un·bil·ious·ly adverb
• un·bil·ious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bilious¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin bīliōsus; bile, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of bilious¹

C16: from Latin bīliōsus full of bile ¹

Example Sentences

When you show people real human beings, most people don't want to be dismissive and bilious.

From The Daily Beast

I'd already drafted a bitter, bilious, bombastic broadside against the right-wing hacks on the Republican Court.

From The Daily Beast

GOP is a mummy-wrapped skeleton sitting in its own chilly mausoleum of bilious resentments and creepy sentimentality.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, the GOP is a mummy-wrapped skeleton sitting in its own chilly mausoleum of bilious resentments and creepy sentimentality.

From The Daily Beast

I can't say that I appreciate green shadows under the eyes, nor do I see anything poetic in a bilious air.

From Project Gutenberg

Malta Fever, or bilious remittent fever, is found in some of the islands taken from Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

A Derangement in my stomach which seemed of the bilious kind determined me to return to town in search of advice.

From Project Gutenberg

He had recently brought Cattledon out of a bilious attack, and ran in this evening to see whether the cure lasted.

From Project Gutenberg

If you could be hard-hearted enough to win H. from this bilious beverage, would it not be worth the perils?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anxious
• fidgety
• groggy
• restless
• sickly
• squeamish
• uncomfortable
• uneasy