Bilious is an adjective with two main meanings. It can describe something connected with bileA bitter digestive fluid made by the liver., or it can describe a person who is bad-temperedEasily annoyed, irritable, and unpleasant with other people., gloomy, or sickly in a way that suggests indigestionDiscomfort or trouble digesting food after eating..
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈbɪliəs/
Easy pronunciation: BIL-ee-əs (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
This uses the adjective meaning irritable, gloomy, or sickly, not the bile-related sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Bilious Meaning
bad-tempered, gloomy, or sickly
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: irritable as if suffering from indigestion
Example: He woke up feeling bilious and snapped at everyone before breakfast.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- dyspeptic — Can mean irritable or peevish, especially in formal writing.
- liverish — Used for feeling sick, grouchy, or out of sorts.
- atrabilious — Formal or literary word for gloomy or irritable.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Bilious
Meaning 2
feeling sick with stomach or liver trouble
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: suffering from or suggesting a liver disorder or gastric distress
Example: The patient looked bilious after the rich meal.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- liverish — Matches the sense of being physically out of sorts.
Meaning 3
connected with bile
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: relating to or containing bile
Example: The doctor discussed bilious substances in the digestive system.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- biliary — The standard medical term for bile-related things.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Bilious Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- dyspeptic
- liverish
- atrabilious
connected with bile
- biliary
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not use bilious when you simply mean angry. It usually suggests anger together with sickness, gloom, or irritability.
- Do not confuse bilious with biliary: biliary is the medical word meaning related to bile.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does bilious mean in everyday English?
In everyday English, bilious usually means ill-tempered, gloomy, or sickly, often in a way that suggests indigestion.
Is bilious a medical word?
Yes. It can be used in medical or formal contexts to mean related to bile, or to describe stomach or liver distress.
What is a good synonym for bilious?
For the common figurative sense, good synonyms include dyspeptic and liverish. For the medical sense, biliary is the better match.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.