1
: a highly vascular ductless organ that is located in the left abdominal region near the stomach or intestine of most vertebrates and is concerned with final destruction of red blood cells, filtration and storage of blood, and production of lymphocytes
2
obsolete
: the seat of emotions or passions
3
archaic
: melancholy
4
: feelings of anger or ill will often suppressed
5
obsolete
: a sudden impulse or whim : caprice
Synonyms
Examples of spleen in a Sentence
vented her spleen and felt much better for having done so
the bill's failure to pass in the legislature was due to nothing more than partisan spleen
Recent Examples on the Web
Doctors concluded that Piazza suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries, including a fractured skull and a lacerated spleen.
—
Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
According to the state's order, removing Bryan's liver instead of his spleen was not Shaknovsky's first medical mistake.
—Lorraine Taylor, Fox News, 26 Sep. 2024
William Bryan, 70, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, underwent surgery on Aug. 21, at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital in Miramar, Florida, because of spleen abnormalities, according to a statement from the personal injury firm Zarzaur Law, based in Pensacola, Florida.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 4 Sep. 2024
Splenic infarct Some people with SCT experience a serious condition called splenic infarct, the death of tissue in the spleen.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spleen 
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.
Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
According to the state's order, removing Bryan's liver instead of his spleen was not Shaknovsky's first medical mistake.
—Lorraine Taylor, Fox News, 26 Sep. 2024
William Bryan, 70, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, underwent surgery on Aug. 21, at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital in Miramar, Florida, because of spleen abnormalities, according to a statement from the personal injury firm Zarzaur Law, based in Pensacola, Florida.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 4 Sep. 2024
Splenic infarct Some people with SCT experience a serious condition called splenic infarct, the death of tissue in the spleen.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spleen
Articles Related to spleen
Dictionary Entries Near spleen
Cite this Entry
“Spleen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spleen. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spleen
noun1
: an organ containing many blood vessels that is located near the stomach or intestine of most vertebrates, destroys worn-out red blood cells, filters the blood, and produces some white blood cells
2
: feelings of anger or ill will that are often not expressed
Medical Definition
spleen
noun
: a highly vascular ductless abdominal organ of vertebrates that resembles a gland in organization but is closely associated with the circulatory system, that plays a role in the final destruction of red blood cells, filtration and storage of blood, and production of lymphocytes, and that in humans is a dark purplish flattened oblong object of a soft fragile consistency lying near the cardiac end of the stomach and consisting largely of blood and lymphoid tissue enclosed in a fibroelastic capsule from which trabeculae ramify through the tissue of the organ which is divisible into a loose friable red pulp in intimate connection with the blood supply and with red blood cells free in its interstices and a denser white pulp chiefly of lymphoid tissue condensed in masses about the small arteries
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share