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

His doctors were worried there was cancer on his spleen, and decided to do surgery to remove the organ. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Nov. 2025

About six years later, she was diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer and had surgery to remove the mass, part of her pancreas, her spleen, 17 lymph nodes, and a fibroid. —Anna Halkidis, Parents, 25 Oct. 2025

There are seven kinds of authorities—some people trust their guts, others like Justus go with their spleen (an immediate but fleeting intuition), and some need to reflect a lot or wait until the answer comes to them naturally. —Julia Ries Wexler, SELF, 14 Oct. 2025

Babies born with congenital rubella syndrome can have serious birth defects including heart, liver and spleen damage, loss of hearing and eyesight and lifelong intellectual disability. —Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025