spleen

Definition of spleennext
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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 In that case, the estate of the late Faye Jean Robinson of Waterloo alleged that in May 2023, Chaudhry performed surgery on Robinson to repair a hernia and to remove her kidney and spleen. Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 13 Mar. 2026 Surgeons found the girl with what prosecutors described as significant internal injuries, including a fractured posterior rib, liver and spleen lacerations and significant internal bleeding. Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 13 Mar. 2026 Snell also tore his Achilles tendon in 1970, suffered a severe knee injury (1971), and a ruptured spleen (1972) that required surgery. Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026 During pregnancy, some of your baby’s DNA may cross the border of the placenta, enter your bloodstream, and persist in organs, such as your kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs, heart, or brain. Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spleen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spleen
Noun
  • Eighteen years later, Martha-Ann Alito would be recorded expressing her still-raw anger over a Washington Post column that critiqued her wardrobe.
    Peter S. Canellos, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Every game is played away from home, the atmosphere always feels hostile and the wild-west of social media means the anger and loathing persist long after a match has ended.
    Graham Scott, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Nancy’s malice ran the gamut from the petty to the pivotal.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Officers arrested Granger on Tuesday and charged him with rape, aggravated assault, malice murder, and two counts of felony murder.
    Dan Raby, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Surely there was something more beneath all this mild pleasantness, some edge of resentment, a few shards of indignation on the brink of cutting through.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
  • To his astonishment — and culinary indignation — the screen returned an absolute void.
    Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Since the length of the fangs and the amount of venom injected depends on the size of the snake (an adult timber rattler may have fangs half an inch long), the copperhead’s bite is less deep and severe.
    Dr. C. E. Kuschel, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026
  • If bitten, Dowd advises snake bite victims to remain calm, limit movement to slow the spread of venom and call 911 immediately.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As of Saturday afternoon, Swalwell ignored calls to drop out of the race and resign from Congress, even as outrage and criticism swelled.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
  • When outliers such as Jeff Sessions and Chris Christie straggled into his camp, their betrayal provoked mockery and outrage.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Gracie’s discovery is squelched and this character’s value to the play comes in establishing how institutional silence can have an equally pernicious impact on confronting social hatreds.
    Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
  • There is nothing quite like the theater and hatred that comes when the Penguins and Flyers share a sheet of ice.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But what do designers think about the resurgence of the heavily curtained look, which was all the rage in the 1980s?
    Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Uthmeier has also gone out of his way to weaken criminal cases that don’t dovetail with his philosophy, including an Orlando road-rage case where a man was shot to death.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But that other supplier would have to try to reverse engineer that particular dye—formulas for dyes and colorants were, in spite of being in service to the war effort, still proprietary—and backward engineering color from a finished product is a crapshoot.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
  • This was in spite of the defendants being allowed in the course of the trial to note that Gutierrez had a prior conviction.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Spleen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spleen. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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