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 Golden retrievers, for example, commonly die of a spleen cancer called hemangiosarcoma around age 10-12. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024 Months later, a tumor formed on Spencer’s spleen and doctors diagnosed him with cancer. Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2024 Since his spleen has been damaged and his white cell count is low, Ripley can’t in good conscience release him. Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024 At 14, Johansson was hit with a debilitating spleen injury that left him on the sidelines for months. Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 18 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for spleen 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spleen
Noun
  • He was also required to take an anger management course and a 52-week Batterer’s Intervention Program.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025
  • After government measures during the Covid pandemic sparked anger and confusion, rolling out a vaccine for H5N1 too soon could do more harm than good.
    Emily Mullin, WIRED, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • His father was found not guilty of malice murder but guilty on the other eight counts.
    Dakin Andone, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Young’s legal team has tried to make the case that the text and others were evidence of malice, but Axelrod argued that the Marquardt and others involved in reporting the story showed restraint.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Not only was Allen a known conservative, but his series spoke to the same sense of righteous indignation felt by the MAGA clan.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2025
  • This seemingly small, personal decision triggers absolute indignation in her husband, parents, and siblings.
    Ilana Masad, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Snake venoms are made up of many different toxins mixed together.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Snake venoms typically contain a wide variety of toxins, and these experiments only targeted two of them.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Portugal saw a massive spike in prices and rents in the residential sector, where investors bought and rented out their residential properties; this sparked outrage among the locals and led to massive protests.
    Raheel Sheikh, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The outrage over the referee assignment is a continuation of the belief in some circles that NFL game officials help the Chiefs.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • To understand why Germans at different levels of society backed Hitler, scholars often cite people’s deep commitment to Nazi ideology; the hatred of Jews, homosexuals, Romani, or Communists; or sheer psychopathic sadism.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Platforms originally designed to connect people and foster communities are being weaponized to spread hatred and violence.
    Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • With the movie itself proving its might across three different categories, Morris’ absence begs the question: How? —Joey Nolfi 12 of 13 SNUB: Challengers score Time to compress and repress your rage, as the Academy pulled the aux cord out from one of the best original scores of 2024.
    Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Turn on the soundtrack loud and rage against the injustice.
    Megan McCluskey, TIME, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • In spite of Gen Z ditching dating apps in favor of IRL hookups, user growth on Feeld has increased 30 percent year-over-year since 2022.
    Jason Parham, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025
  • But in spite of any controversy, the tech mogul is not distancing himself from the fiancée of Jeff Bezos.
    Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near spleen

Cite this Entry

“Spleen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spleen. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on spleen

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