Synonyms of spleen

spleen

noun

ˈsplēn 

1

as in anger

an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something

vented her spleen and felt much better for having done so

Synonyms & Similar Words

• anger
• indignation
• outrage
• rage
• fury
• wrath
• mood
• irritation
• wrathfulness
• irritability
• exasperation
• choler
• bitterness
• madness
• ire
• jealousy
• resentment
• slow burn
• contempt
• annoyance
• lividity
• temper
• mad
• hostility
• bile
• furor
• malice
• birse
• angriness
• grudge
• venom
• irateness
• lividness
• biliousness
• jaundice
• outburst
• spite
• animosity
• envy
• vexation
• rancor
• antagonism
• enmity
• aggravation
• embitterment
• vindictiveness
• vengefulness
• virulence
• vitriol
• pique
• antipathy
• acrimony
• pugnacity
• malevolence
• irascibility
• crankiness
• heat
• belligerence
• warmth
• contentiousness
• flare
• dudgeon
• quarrelsomeness
• contrariness
• pugnaciousness
• acrimoniousness
• pet
• dander
• querulousness
• road rage
• orneriness
• delirium
• ruffle
• hot-headedness
• blowup
• huff
• empoisonment
• air rage
• disputatiousness
• passion
• chafe
• irascibleness
• rise
• flare-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasure
• delight
• patience
• calmness
• forbearance

2

as in malice

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm

the bill's failure to pass in the legislature was due to nothing more than partisan spleen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• malice
• venom
• hatred
• spite
• cruelty
• meanness
• malignancy
• hatefulness
• maliciousness
• hostility
• malignity
• jealousy
• malevolence
• bitterness
• spitefulness
• disgust
• viciousness
• contempt
• malignance
• nastiness
• despite
• hate
• disdain
• jaundice
• resentment
• bile
• cattiness
• animosity
• antagonism
• rancor
• enmity
• vindictiveness
• loathing
• distaste
• grudge
• ill will
• antipathy
• abhorrence
• abomination
• revulsion
• repugnance
• vengefulness
• repulsion
• abusiveness
• virulence
• horror
• pique
• scorn
• vitriol
• mean-spiritedness
• execration
• invidiousness
• aversion
• despicableness
• bitchery
• bitchiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• love
• passion
• devotion
• amiability
• civility
• worship
• cordiality
• friendliness
• ardor
• hospitality
• amity
• adoration
• infatuation
• affection
• sympathy
• veneration
• kindness
• understanding
• friendship
• charity
• empathy
• amicability
• kindliness
• goodwill
• comity

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun spleen differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spleen are grudge, ill will, malevolence, malice, malignity, and spite. While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

When is it sensible to use grudge instead of spleen?

Although the words grudge and spleen have much in common, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

When is ill will a more appropriate choice than spleen?

The words ill will and spleen can be used in similar contexts, but ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

When can malevolence be used instead of spleen?

While the synonyms malevolence and spleen are close in meaning, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

When could malice be used to replace spleen?

The synonyms malice and spleen are sometimes interchangeable, but malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

When would malignity be a good substitute for spleen?

The meanings of malignity and spleen largely overlap; however, malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

In what contexts can spite take the place of spleen?

The words spite and spleen are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spleen

This reminds me of the urban legend involving a person who goes to a bar, gets drugged, wakes up, and sees that an internal organ such as a liver or spleen has been removed. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

The spleen is an important organ for fighting meningitis, and so people with lymphoma or sickle cell disease may need a booster. —Melissa Dahl, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025

The sickle cells were getting stuck in her spleen, placing her in and out of hospital care. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025

This Super Bowl in particular feels like a spear to the spleen of any gridiron-loving American who craves originality and spark and, well, funky fresh helmets. —Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2025