spleen

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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

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 spleen The tissue samples came from organs including the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, spleen, intestines, adrenal glands, and skin. Jamie Ducharme, Health, 26 Aug. 2025 The senior coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, said at the hearing that Lilly's spleen didn't rupture until the morning of her death, so there was nothing that could have previously alerted medics, according to the Guardian. Becca Longmire, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025 In theory, the technique could be used on a wide range of organs from brains to spleens, and everything in between. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2025 By looking at tissues taken from organs throughout the body, including the heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, lung, skin and muscles, researchers in a new study determined that aging starts to accelerate from 45 to 55. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spleen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spleen
Noun
  • But in Israel, some of the relief felt in the wake of the agreement has been eclipsed by anger that Hamas so far has released only the remains of nine of the 28 deceased hostages held in Gaza.
    Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The Owensboro news media and some white onlookers insist that when the lady sheriff didn’t show up to act as executioner, there was anger in the press’s unmet expectations, which then was taken out on the crowd, with the reporters lying about the audience’s unruly behavior.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • These materials can help Ellis prove that Alvarado acted with actual malice.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2025
  • In addition to stealing students’ data, the worm had also altered some records, perhaps for no better reason than simple malice.
    Big Think, Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • She was particularly distressed by Kennedy’s June decision to fire the entire vaccine advisory board and stack it with his allies, but recent months have offered even more opportunities for stress and indignation.
    Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
  • McBride sets the political context for Swift’s savage indignation by noting that 1727–1729 saw three successive harvest failures in Ireland.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Spiders have venom to subdue prey, but the majority have fangs that are too tiny to puncture human skin.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Luckily the snake did not inject any venom.
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The footage sparked outrage and dismay across Israel.
    Itay Stern, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Swart also blamed major social-media platforms for monetizing outrage and accelerating polarization.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The former screen siren was fined nearly $25,000 in 2008 after being convicted of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying her country.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Looking at me with pure hatred.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Carti’s idiosyncratic style helped birth a generation of rage rap artists, and his latest studio album, which spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200, could finally convince Grammy voters to give him his due.
    Kyle Denis, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2025
  • In Los Angeles, my hometown, protests rage as ICE raids intensify — yet we’re still questioned for existing between survival and success.
    Sofía Pereda, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Squid Game, Money Heist, Blood Sisters, Sacred Games, Borgen, Roma — many subtitled, some dubbed — became global hits not in spite of their local sound but because of it.
    Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The Jets, in spite of a historic level of passing ineptitude, still had a chance to win.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spleen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spleen. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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