choleric

adjective

cho·​ler·​ic ˈkä-lə-rik  kə-ˈler-ik 

1

: easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered

a perpetually choleric old grouser

2

: angry, irate

a choleric outburst

cholerically

ˈkä-lə-ri-k(ə-)lē 

kə-ˈler-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Synonyms

• crabby
• cranky
• cross
• crotchety
• fiery
• grouchy
• grumpy
• irascible
• irritable
• peevish
• perverse
• pettish
• petulant
• prickly
• quick-tempered
• raspy
• ratty
• short-tempered
• snappish
• snappy
• snarky
• snippety
• snippy
• stuffy
• testy
• waspish

Examples of choleric in a Sentence

watch out for the choleric librarian at the reference desk

I absolutely get choleric when a telemarketer calls during the dinner hour.

Recent Examples on the Web

Answering the question now is choleric. —John Baldoni, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2021

Even outside politics, Mr. Jones’s choleric, wide-eyed style has influenced the way in which a new generation of conspiracy theorists looks for fame online. —Kevin Roose, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2022

Mask agonists tend to be both crumbly and choleric, a bad combination and ample reason to seek comfort. —Brian T. Allen, National Review, 17 Mar. 2022

He is replaced by a choleric, more professional West Indian, a lean black man with a faint, unplaceable accent. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

see cholera

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

choleric

adjective

cho·​ler·​ic ˈkäl-ə-rik  kə-ˈler-ik 

: easily made angry : hot tempered

Etymology

from earlier choler "yellow bile," from Middle English coler (same meaning), from early French colere (same meaning), from Latin cholera "cholera," from Greek (same meaning), taken by ancient authors as caused by bile (Greek cholē) see Word History at humor

Medical Definition

choleric

adjective

cho·​ler·​ic ˈkäl-ə-rik  kə-ˈler-ik 

: easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered