Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Spiteful or malicious; venomous.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Like a viper; somewhat viperous; malignant; ugly: as, a viperish old woman.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Somewhat like a viper; viperous.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective In the manner of a
viper . - adjective
spiteful ;treacherous
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word viperish.
Examples
-
Enid Graham and Kelli O'Hara have some fun with the viperish sisters.
Michael Giltz: Theater: Sam Waterston's "King Lear" Disappoints At Public Michael Giltz 2011
-
This morning in the NY Times, Virginia Heffernan found herself missing the viperish presence of Joan Rivers on the red carpet, and quoted some Rivers line about how she's so old and saggy her gynecologist wears a crash helmet.
Emmy Notes: James Wolcott Wolcott, James, 1952- 2009
-
By the Almighty, we have escaped from the blackamoor and from drowning: but how shall we escape from this abominable and viperish monster?
-
His Slade is a volatile, fascinating mix of old-fashioned courtliness and viperish hostility.
-
“I wish he were uglier,” said Lady Dudley, with a viperish look at Comte Felix.
A Daughter of Eve 2007
-
Joan Didion is "a viperish, whispering little creature."
-
“If I choose,” said Goupil, giving her a viperish look; “Massin would buy the whole for two hundred thousand francs.”
Ursula 2006
-
“Admirable tenderness!” said Madame Fosco, admiring her husband, with a last viperish look in my direction.
The Woman in White 2003
-
She cast one viperish look at me as I entered the hall, but said nothing, and went slowly upstairs without returning my bow.
The Woman in White 2003
-
You never gave me the credit for that much intelligence, did you? she thought with viperish satisfaction.
The Chrome Borne Lackey, Mercedes 1993
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.