WordGarden.iocholeric
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kəʊlˈɛrɪk/
US
- /ˈkɑlərɪk/
Meanings
Adjective
easily angered or bad-tempered
relating to choler or the old medical theory of yellow bile
Beyond the definition
Imagine someone who flares up at the slightest provocation—that's often described as choleric. It doesn't just mean angry; it suggests a deeply ingrained tendency toward irritability and a quick temper. Historically, this term came from ancient medical beliefs linking yellow bile (cholé in Greek) to an excitable temperament. You might describe a fiery historical figure like a choleric general, always ready for battle, or a choleric old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. It's stronger than simply being "in a bad mood"; it's about being prone to anger.
The word "choleric" describes someone who is easily provoked to anger, quick-tempered, and often irascible. It goes beyond momentary frustration—a choleric person has a disposition toward wrathfulness. The origin of the word lies in ancient Greek medicine, where it was believed that an excess of yellow bile (the humor cholé) caused such a temperament.
While we no longer believe in humors, the term persists to describe someone with a volatile and often aggressive personality. You might encounter "choleric" when reading historical accounts—think of a choleric king known for his unpredictable outbursts or a choleric reformer fiercely advocating for change. It's not simply about feeling angry; it's about having an inherent, almost defining characteristic of being easily angered.
The term can also describe speech, actions, or reactions characterized by that heat: "His choleric response to the news surprised everyone." In older or more technical writing, you may also see it used in its original, humoral sense to mean “relating to bile” or “bilious,” but in modern English it’s most often applied to people who exhibit a consistently irritable, easily angered disposition.
Examples
- 1
Workplace anger
His choleric boss would explode over the smallest delay.
- Usage
formal or literary; more common in writing than in everyday speech
- 2
Family conflict
She had learned to stay calm when her father grew choleric at the dinner table.
- 3
Literary character
In the novel, the aging king becomes increasingly choleric as he loses control of the court.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- calm
- even-tempered
Used with (collocations)
- choleric temperament
- choleric personality
- choleric outburst
Word family
- choler
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- cholericadjective