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viperous

American  
[vahy-per-uhs] / ˈvaɪ pər əs /

adjective

  1. of the nature of or resembling a viper.

    a viperous movement.

  2. of or relating to vipers.

  3. characteristic of vipers.

  4. venomous.


viperous British  
/ ˈvaɪpərəs /

adjective

  1. Also: viperine. of, relating to, or resembling a viper

  2. malicious

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of viperous

First recorded in 1525–35; viper + -ous


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Otherwise, the script prunes the couple’s legal battle down to one scene with Ivy’s viperous lawyer, played by Allison Janney, who brings a rottweiler to the showdown and claims it’s her service animal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2025

As Agnes, Katigbak delivers a measured prattle, her negging neither as viperous nor as offhand as Albee’s text gives the character license to be.

From New York Times ● Nov. 8, 2022

I was particularly disappointed by Tatiana Maslany, as the viperous young exec Diana Christensen, who would sell her soul for ratings if only she had one to begin with.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 10, 2018

Tellingly, we notice these characters only when the family does; they are otherwise as invisible to us as they are to Georges, Anne and the rest of their viperous brood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2017

Urbino might change masters and obey the viperous Duke Valentino.

From Renaissance in Italy Volume 3 The Fine Arts by John Addington Symonds

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