spleenful

[spleen-fuhl]

adjective

1. full of or displaying spleen.

2. ill-humored; irritable or peevish; spiteful; splenetic.

spleenful

/ ˈspliːnfʊl /

adjective

1. affected by spleen; bad-tempered or irritable

Other Word Forms

• spleenfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of spleenful¹

First recorded in 1580–90; spleen + -ful

Example Sentences

His nature was a complex affair, which combined many admirable qualities oddly mixed up with a disposition as sour and spleenful, even revengeful, as well could be.

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We regretted, for Thackeray's own sake, that he had permitted himself, in some spleenful moment, to commit an injustice, which would sooner or later be apparent to his own mind.

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His fluency was as remarkable as ever, and at first as spleenful; by-and-by his outrageous mood gave way, and, in response to some of Rainham's adroit thrusts, he condescended to stand on his defence.

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But the gauntlet now is nearly run,   The spleenful forts by fits reply, And the burning boat dies down in morning's sky.

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The Umbrian mountaineers are spleenful, tenacious of a grudge and ferociously acrimonious.

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Related Words

• barbed 
• catty 
• cruel 
• hateful 
• malicious 
• ornery 
• snide 
• venomous 
• vicious 
• vindictive