as in irritable
having or showing a habitually bad temper
a bilious old dog who snaps at everyone
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Recent Examples of bilious
The role of the cranky academic could easily be a stock character, but Giamatti invests the role with bilious wit as well as a few fleeting glimpses of vulnerability.
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Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The only act that still holds our attention is deranged Trump, the bilious conspiracy theorist immortalized in Sarah Cooper videos.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 28 Aug. 2020
Here, he’s played with the right level of bilious discomfort by Paul Giamatti, and the writing-directing team Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini center him in a self-aware biopic, one that humorously wonders why such a resolute curmudgeon became a minor American celebrity in the 1980s.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2022
Why? The proud, efficient and bilious store manager, Pauline (Eva Kaminsky), is all business; her upswept hair is a pincushion of pens.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for bilious 
Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The only act that still holds our attention is deranged Trump, the bilious conspiracy theorist immortalized in Sarah Cooper videos.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 28 Aug. 2020
Here, he’s played with the right level of bilious discomfort by Paul Giamatti, and the writing-directing team Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini center him in a self-aware biopic, one that humorously wonders why such a resolute curmudgeon became a minor American celebrity in the 1980s.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2022
Why? The proud, efficient and bilious store manager, Pauline (Eva Kaminsky), is all business; her upswept hair is a pincushion of pens.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for bilious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bilious
Adjective
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Even if a more irritable side of her personality has emerged, there’s no excuse for cruelty.R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
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In worst-case scenarios, pain can cause a dog to be more irritable and aggressive, like if a human had a severe headache and couldn't tolerate social interaction, Enomoto said.Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Early this year, the company had a PR problem as angry customers raged online about higher menu prices.Allison Morrow, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement When questioned about the next day’s testimony, Netanyahu became visibly angry.Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And while there is enough splenetic wit and manic detail to generate obsessive fandom (entire sections of Web sites are dedicated to deciphering just what Kenny is mumbling), subjects like alien abduction, genetic engineering, and Kathie Lee are hardly original targets for satire.Chris Norris, SPIN, 13 Aug. 2022
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Meanwhile, the commentator and controversialist Piers Morgan, an obsessively close observer and relentless critic of Meghan, inevitably waded in with his usual splenetic views.Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 17 Sep. 2022
Adjective
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Now, there’s thriving wetlands, a hemlock forest and trout stream, all made possible by a limestone retention pond the school built to naturally filter and clean the acid mine drainage.Chris Papst, Baltimore Sun, 7 Nov. 2024
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Faisal Halim, who plays as a winger for the national team and Malaysian club Selangor, was hospitalized with fourth-degree burns following an acid attack by two assailants at a shopping mall on Sunday.San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024
Adjective
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Rufo should know this, at which point someone who caucuses with the right should be pleased to keep his own, frequently laudatory views (there’s much that’s disagreeable about DEI, ESG and other acronyms) separate from government force at all levels.John Tamny, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
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Some repel deer with a disagreeable taste, such as hot pepper.Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The endearing homecoming introduces new characters including Moni (Hualalai Chung), a passionate island bard; Loto (Rose Matafeo), a quirky shipwright; Kele (David Fane), a cantankerous farmer; and Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), Moana’s tenacious younger sister.Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Nov. 2024
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Pic directed by Christopher Andrews, who is making his feature directing debut, follows Michael (Abbott) who is the last son of a farming family, and lives an isolated existence with his ailing, cantankerous father Ray.Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The toy comes to life, fends off some ornery mice with his sword and leads Clara through a wintry dreamworld of dancing Christmas treats.Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Dec. 2024
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Throughout the movie, the ornery Scrooge (played by George C. Scott) is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near bilious
Cite this Entry
“Bilious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bilious. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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