splenetic

[ spli-net-ik ]

adjective

1. of the spleen; splenic.
2. irritable; peevish; spiteful.

   Synonyms: touchy, fretful, testy, irascible, vexatious, choleric, petulant

3. Obsolete. affected with, characterized by, or tending to produce melancholy.

noun

1. a splenetic person.

splenetic

/ splɪˈnɛtɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the spleen
2. spiteful or irritable; peevish
3. obsolete.
   full of melancholy

noun

1. a spiteful or irritable person

Derived Forms

• spleˈnetically, adverb

Other Words From

• sple·neti·cal·ly adverb
• unsple·netic adjective
• unsple·neti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of splenetic¹

From the Late Latin word splēnēticus, dating back to 1535–45. See splen-, -etic

Word History and Origins

Origin of splenetic¹

C16: from Late Latin splēnēticus, from Latin splēn spleen

Example Sentences

It’s a look — for starters — at a splenetic young writer who, during a stay in the country, waits for his publisher to weigh in on his unfortunately titled second novel “Club Sandwich.”

From New York Times

When she came back to Broadway, two years later, she gave an eye-scalding fireworks display as the splenetic, dying mother in “Three Tall Women,” for which she won a Tony.

From New York Times

In the late ’70s, he began self-releasing a series of splenetic improvisations that suggested the blues broken into bits following a violent car crash.

From New York Times

Meanwhile, the commentator and controversialist Piers Morgan, an obsessively close observer and relentless critic of Meghan, inevitably waded in with his usual splenetic views.

From New York Times

Moscow’s splenetic response to the European visit underscored Putin’s anger over Ukraine’s tightening bonds with Europe.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annoyed
• bitter
• enraged
• exasperated
• furious
• heated
• impassioned
• indignant
• irate
• irritable
• irritated
• mad
• offended
• outraged
• resentful
• sullen
• uptight