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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived 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 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

Thanks to Shelley, the idea became current that the "viperous murderer," the critic, killed Keats.

From The Critical Game by Macy, John Albert