Bilious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈbil-yəs/ bil·ious

Meaning & Definition of Bilious

Bilious (adjective)

  1. of or relating to a yellow or greenish fluid that is secreted by the liver and that aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats, of or relating to bile
  2. marked by or suffering from liver dysfunction and especially excessive secretion of bile
  3. appearing as if affected by a bilious disorder

Bilious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a habitually bad temper

    "a bilious old dog who snaps at everyone"

    similar: acid, bearish, bloody-minded (chiefly British), cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, splenetic, surly
    related: choleric, crabby, cranky, crotchety, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, querulous, irascible, irritable, peevish, peppery, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippy, testy, touchy, argumentative, contentious, contrary, cussed, angry, exasperated, indignant, irate, mad, upset, uptight, depressed, dour, glum, morose, sullen, anal, old-maidish, schoolmarmish
    opposite: amiable, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered
    near: agreeable, amicable, congenial, friendly, pleasant, benign, gentle, kind, nice, sweet, bubbly, cheerful, cheery, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, joyful, lighthearted, lively, vivacious, content, glad, happy, calm, placid, serene, long-suffering, patient, tolerant

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bilious

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bilious:

Chiefly British: bloody-minded
acid, bearish, cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, ornery, splenetic, surly

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bilious

Words with the opposite meaning of Bilious:

amiable, good-humored, good-natured, good-tempered

Related Words for Bilious

choleric, crabby, cranky, crotchety, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, querulous, irascible, irritable, peevish, peppery, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippy, testy, touchy, argumentative, contentious, contrary, cussed, angry, exasperated, indignant, irate, mad, upset, uptight

Near Antonyms of Bilious

agreeable, amicable, congenial, friendly, pleasant, benign, gentle, kind, nice, sweet, bubbly, cheerful, cheery, effervescent, exuberant, high-spirited, joyful, lighthearted, lively, vivacious, content, glad, happy, calm, placid, serene, long-suffering, patient, tolerant

Word Forms of Bilious

Derived words: biliously (adverb), biliousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bilious

Middle French bilieux, from Latin biliosus, from bilis

First known use: 1541

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Bilious

Frequently Asked Questions about Bilious

What does "Bilious" mean?

"Bilious" means of or relating to a yellow or greenish fluid that is secreted by the liver and that aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats, of or relating to bile. As an adjective, it is defined as: of or relating to a yellow or greenish fluid that is secreted by the liver and that aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats, of or relating to bile.

What is another word for "Bilious"?

Other words for "Bilious" include acid, bearish, bloody-minded, cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored and ill-natured. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bilious" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bilious"?

There are 50 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bilious". Common alternatives include acid, bearish, bloody-minded, cantankerous, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered and ornery.

What is the opposite of "Bilious"?

Antonyms of "Bilious" include amiable, good-humored, good-natured and good-tempered. Near antonyms include agreeable, amicable, congenial and friendly.

How do you use "Bilious" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bilious" in a sentence: "a bilious old dog who snaps at everyone".

Is "Bilious" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bilious" is an adjective.

Is "Bilious" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Bilious" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Bilious"?

"Bilious" is pronounced /ˈbil-yəs/ and divided into syllables as bil·ious.