bilious

adjective

bil·​ious ˈbil-yəs 

1

a

biology : of or relating to a yellow or greenish fluid that is secreted by the liver and that aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats : of or relating to bile (see bile sense 1a)

b

biology : marked by or suffering from liver dysfunction and especially excessive secretion of bile

a bilious attack

a bilious patient

c

: appearing as if affected by a bilious disorder

a sickly bilious face

2

: of or indicative of a peevish ill-natured disposition

bilious commentary

her bilious humor

3

: sickeningly unpleasant

the bilious weather

with clapboards painted red and bilious yellow

—Sinclair Lewis

biliously adverb

biliousness noun

Did you know?

Bilious is one of several words whose origins trace to the old belief that four bodily humors (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood) control temperament. Just like phlegmatic ("of a slow and stolid phlegm-driven character"), melancholy ("experiencing dejection associated with black bile"), and sanguine ("of a cheerful, blood-based disposition"), bilious suggests a personality associated with an excess of one of the humors—in this case, yellow bile. Such a personality may also be described as unreasonable, peevish, or ill-tempered, as typified by Charlotte Brontë in her 1849 novel, Shirley: "These two men, of hard, bilious natures both, rarely came into contact but they chafed each other’s moods."

Synonyms

• irritable
• angry
• splenetic
• dyspeptic
• acid
• disagreeable
• cantankerous
• ornery

Examples of bilious in a Sentence

a bilious old dog who snaps at everyone

Recent Examples on the Web

Minaj’s bilious flurry is possibly related to claims that she is owed between $100 to 200 million related to her stake in Tidal, the music streaming service launched and spearheaded by Jay-Z in 2015 and was sold to Jack Dorsey’s company Square for $297 million in 2021. —Andrew Flanagan, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025

Even though his bloodwork looked normal six months previously, sudden onset or acute renal failure can happen in an old dog for no apparent reason other than age and result in bilious vomiting. —Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 8 June 2025

And Emily’s side of the family isn't much better, represented by her mean, bilious aunt (Allison Janney, herself no slouch in the hissing-authority department) and her boozy mother (Elizabeth Perkins, replacing Jean Smart from the first film). —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Under Nézet-Séguin, the musicians do the job spectacularly, releasing all those bilious harmonies and seething rhythms in an unbroken two-hour spasm of excitement. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French bilieux, from Latin biliosus, from bilis

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for bilious

• ileus
• punctilious
• supercilious

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Kids Definition

bilious

adjective

bil·​ious ˈbil-yəs 

1

a

: of or relating to bile

b

: marked by or suffering from a disorder of the liver

2

: of an irritable disposition

biliously adverb

biliousness noun

Medical Definition

bilious

adjective

bil·​ious ˈbil-yəs 

1

: of or relating to bile

2

: marked by or affected with disordered liver function and especially excessive secretion of bile

biliousness noun