dyspeptic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to, subject to, or suffering from dyspepsia.
-
gloomy, pessimistic, and irritable.
noun
adjective
-
relating to or suffering from dyspepsia
-
irritable
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dyspeptic
1685–95; dys- + Greek peptikós pertaining to digestion, equivalent to pept ( ós ) digested ( pep- cook, digest + -tos past participle suffix) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Dyspeptic is an old-fashioned word not often used anymore. It describes someone who is irritable due to depression or indigestion. Nowadays we separate people who are depressed from people who are cranky because of indigestion, but dyspeptic rolls both these conditions into one ball of fun. A common dyspeptic type would be an old man shouting "Get off my lawn!" to kids playing on the street.
Vocabulary lists containing dyspeptic
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: dys
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
47 Great Words from "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," by Junot Diaz
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
And in “Giant,” John Lithgow, reprising his Olivier Award-winning performance, portrays the author in all his dyspeptic glory.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026
Fern had a punchy writing style and ability to dash off whimsical riffs on un-newsy topics such as home decor, dyspeptic shopkeepers and bedtime stories.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026
His characteristically dyspeptic interview in the Wall Street Journal trivializes the intelligence and individuality of Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson for no apparent reason beyond petty resentment.
From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2023
The play’s narrative twist is the plot unfolds in reverse, starting with the friends’ dyspeptic breakup and ending with the joyful promise of their youth.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 12, 2022
The news that an alien’s dyspeptic pains were persisting did not, however, evoke any sympathetic words, and again I retreated into Trinity Street with a prescription for more white stuff.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
