viperous
Treacherous and toxic
Viperous means having the qualities of a viper—venomous, treacherous, or malicious.
The word usually describes people or their words: viperous gossip, a viperous tongue.
Like the snake, something viperous strikes with harmful intent.
The word is literary and uncommon, more often encountered as *viperous* than the slightly more frequent *viperish*.
Harboring ill will
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- malignantHarmfully invasive, often fatal
baleful · menacing · threatening · cruel · hateful · bitter · cutting · scathing
Inclined to mislead others
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- traitorousGuilty of betrayal
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- schemingCrafty and calculating
untrustworthy · perfidious · insidious · conniving · underhanded · dishonest · disloyal · guileful
Limbless scaled reptile
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- fangsSharp piercing teeth
- aspVenomous Egyptian serpent
- cobraHooded venomous serpent
adder · mamba · rattlesnake · reptile · slithering · forked-tongue · scales · coiled
malevolent
Harboring ill will
malignant · baleful · menacing · threatening · cruel · hateful · bitter · cutting · scathing · vitriolic
deceitful
Inclined to mislead others
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- traitorousGuilty of betrayal
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
scheming · untrustworthy · perfidious · insidious · conniving · underhanded · dishonest · disloyal · guileful · sly
snake
Limbless scaled reptile
cobra · adder · mamba · rattlesnake · reptile · slithering · forked-tongue · scales · coiled · hissing
viperousbenevolent
Desiring others' welfare
trustworthy · warm · kindhearted · benign · harmless
viperoushoneyed
Sweetened or flattering
complimentary · encouraging · supportive · soft-spoken · gracious