choleric

adjective

ˈkä-lə-rik How to pronounce choleric (audio)
Definition of cholericnext
1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed watch out for the choleric librarian at the reference desk

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in angry
feeling or showing anger I absolutely get choleric when a telemarketer calls during the dinner hour

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of choleric In recent months and days, right up though the current authoritarian auto-da-fé that’s taking apart the Constitution, Winslow has become ever more choleric in his public comments. — Fred Schruers, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026 Spiced with verbal humor, the necessary expositional scenes are expeditiously handled, reintroducing such Superman regulars as Jackie Cooper, the Daily Planet’s choleric editor, and Margot Kidder in her familiar role of Lois Lane, girl reporter. — Arthur Knight, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025 Mask agonists tend to be both crumbly and choleric, a bad combination and ample reason to seek comfort. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 17 Mar. 2022 He is replaced by a choleric, more professional West Indian, a lean black man with a faint, unplaceable accent. — Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021 Both have professed deep affection for the comic-book series about a globe-trotting boy reporter, his wirehaired fox terrier, and his choleric seafaring friend. — IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2010
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choleric
  1. irritable
  2. angry
  3. fiery
  4. indignant
  5. enraged
  6. mad
  7. furious
  8. angered
Adjective
  • Murray says her own experience has made her more understanding when female colleagues seem more tired or irritable than usual, particularly when the behavior is out of character.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Could be because for much of the running time, Abrams’ Jay Gardiner is up against what looks like a very large irritable sphincter.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • His second confrontation is with an angry, judgmental version of Original Vision who accuses him of cowardice and inaction for denying his identity for so long.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
  • His familiar cast of angry, sometimes menacing children began to give way to quieter, more introspective figures.
    — Daniel Cassady for ARTnews, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of angry
Adjective
  • The sky is ablaze with fiery colors all along the horizon where the deep lunar shadow drops off.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Sometimes the bag is the outfit, as evidenced by this fiery red mini bag that delivers a punchy pop of color.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • Thomas complains about being stuck in the Keanu Reeves movie Speed, which sends Paladin off on a surprisingly indignant, knowledgeable pop-culture rant.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
  • His tone was reminiscent of the indignant woman in Yamaska who’d unloaded on me while walking her dog.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of indignant
Adjective
  • Humiliated and enraged, Shurpanakha flees and recounts the incident to her brother Khara, setting in motion a series of confrontations between the rakshasas and Rama and Lakshmana.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • And not just any velociraptor, but the enraged dinosaur that pushed franchise champion Rachel Reilly into a volcano, thereby burning the reality TV icon to a crisp in a sea of lava.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of enraged
Adjective
  • In our era of No Kings rallies, the contemporary political relevance of a mad ruler demanding public displays of fealty is so obvious that Prikryl doesn’t need to press the point very hard.
    — Langdon Hammer, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Heather may or may not be mad that Tamra took selfies with Jenn and not with her.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of mad
Adjective
  • The Democratic Socialists of America sparked furious outrage after tapping controversial Twitch star Hasan Piker to anchor their election night broadcast.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Exasperated and furious over their inaction, Heumann and a group of disability activists staged a sit-in at the San Francisco Health, Education and Welfare federal building on Apr 5, 1977.
    — Barry Levitt, Time, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of furious
Adjective
  • The bar has been sparsely attended on what would normally be busy Saturday nights as some angered customers have called for a boycott, according to The Boston Globe.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Police said the two male juveniles became angered when the other three would not take them to buy marijuana.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Definition of angered

Browse Nearby Words

choler
choleric
chomped (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Choleric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choleric. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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