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choleric

adjective
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cho·​ler·​ic | \ ˈkä-lə-rik How to pronounce choleric (audio) , kə-ˈler-ik How to pronounce choleric (audio) \

Definition of choleric

1 : easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered a perpetually choleric old grouser
2 : angry, irate a choleric outburst
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Other Words from choleric

cholerically \ ˈkä-​lə-​ri-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce cholerically (audio) , kə-​ˈler-​i-​k(ə-​)lē \ adverb

Examples of choleric in a Sentence

watch out for the choleric librarian at the reference desk I absolutely get choleric when a telemarketer calls during the dinner hour.
Recent Examples on the Web In the town of El Ejido, where Vox had the support of roughly a fifth of voters, discussions on migration can border on the choleric. — Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, "With rise of Vox, Europe's populist wave reaches Spanish shores," 29 Apr. 2019 His mood has, for some time, been frequently cryptic, occasionally choleric. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "A Lot Can Change in 90 Days. Ask Tottenham Hotspur.," 30 Aug. 2019 Their emotionalism is in direct contrast with Barsoumian’s hurtling Hotspur, who hammers his lines for choleric emphasis. — Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, "Tom Hanks, Hamish Linklater and a 'Henry IV' worthy of applause," 10 June 2018 The topic is Hippocrates’ psychological prototypes — melancholic, sanguine, phlegmatic and choleric — based on ancient beliefs in four corresponding humors: black bile, blood, phlegm and yellow bile. — Lauren Warnecke, chicagotribune.com, "Joffrey’s intense, anything-but-safe ‘Modern Masters’ shows how American ballet got here," 8 Feb. 2018 After Mickey, the most famous character was, of course, that choleric, put-upon, slap-stuck Donald Duck, easily the most ridiculously funny fellow ever put on film. — Lily Rothman, Time, "'Molding Myths and Spinning Fantasies': Read Walt Disney's Obituary From 1966," 15 Dec. 2017 McClure's choleric Nick and Grisetti's sensitive-poet Nigel balance each other nicely. — Kerry Reid, chicagotribune.com, "Nothing succeeds like excess in the Shakes-spoof 'Something Rotten!'," 13 July 2017 That’s largely owing to Bobby Moreno’s swaggering, choleric performance as the toothy Rex. — Alexis Soloski, New York Times, "Review: ‘Alligator’ Wallows in a Lurid Florida Pit of Sex and Murder," 7 Dec. 2016 If thou art choleric, please cover thy face with a cloth to save thy neighbor from the illness that Satan hath visited upon ye for thy digressions from God’s path. — Kira Garcia, The New Yorker, "Puritan Yoga," 22 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'choleric.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of choleric

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for choleric

see cholera

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Time Traveler for choleric

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The first known use of choleric was in 1556

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Cite this Entry

“Choleric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choleric. Accessed 28 May. 2020.

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More Definitions for choleric

choleric

adjective
How to pronounce choleric (audio) How to pronounce choleric (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of choleric

formal : made angry easily

See the full definition for choleric in the English Language Learners Dictionary

choleric

adjective
cho·​ler·​ic | \ ˈkäl-ə-rik How to pronounce choleric (audio) , kə-ˈler-ik How to pronounce choleric (audio) \

Medical Definition of choleric

: easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered

More from Merriam-Webster on choleric

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for choleric

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with choleric

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