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.

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viperous British  

/ ˈvaɪpərəs /

adjective

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

2. malicious

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Other Word Forms

• pseudoviperous adjective
• pseudoviperously adverb
• viperously adverb

Etymology

Origin of viperous

First recorded in 1525–35; viper + -ous

Example Sentences

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 compensation, we might get the deliciously viperous instead, just for the engaging fun of it, but there too the current roster is not delivering.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2021

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

Wherefore that ignorant and impudent calumny, of their consortship with Gib's followers, is only the vent of viperous envy.

From A Hind Let Loose Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Shields, Alexander