liverish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "liverish" is correct and usable in written English, though it is somewhat archaic.
It can be used to describe someone who appears ill or unwell, often with a sallow complexion or a lack of vitality. Example: "After a long week of work, I felt quite liverish and decided to take a day off to rest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Books

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Very likely, she sat here every day beside the fixed ashtray filled with sand, looking at the liverish painted wall (they had painted it pink or mauve, but it looked liverish, the corridor being so dim) with the bracket shelf on it supporting a spill of fake ivy.

The New Yorker

Other pieces call to mind other color words — puce, cream, chartreuse, peat, liverish, brass — that seem almost right but are, in the end, wrong.

The New Yorker

Her mouth would close then, and Perkus could admire the pale brown of her liverish lips, the pinker brown of her nose, and the raw pale pink beneath her scant, stiff whiskers — the same color as her eyelids and the interior of her ears and her scar and the flesh beneath the transparent pistachio shells of her nails.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, into an upended frisbee'd world my kids shake the bundles of sargassum seaweed,collecting their own marine menagerie for observation.The liverish waves play on, sunlight doled out in rations   from grape-stained clouds to whiten froth exploding in our ears.A sulfurous wind blows in, then as suddenly disappears.

The New Yorker

The thing on Sarah's scalp is the size of a large kernel and has a stale, liverish yellow color, but it doesn't brush away.

The New Yorker

As the mother ministers to the ailing impostor, it occurs to her that perhaps he's the original hamster after all, rendered unrecognizable by illness and age — like her own mother, whom she remembers on her deathbed with sudden clarity: "The three weeks it took for her limbs to waste, her skin to turn a liverish yellow and her mind to wash away on a sea of morphine".

The New York Times - Books

When Gimlette leaves what passes for civilization, he charges ecstatically into the rough, through the "gateway of a primordial world," journeying with relish through "slicks of brilliant ooze, grass like green fire, liverish pools and succulent bogs rimmed with pink," spotting "lilies so purple they looked like the work of an imperial hatter".

The New York Times - Books

For one thing, it hangs in a series of small and gloomy rooms - the liverish light is designed to protect fragile works - that are often crowded beyond all endurance (Gauguin's association with the Impressionists sees to that).

The Guardian - Arts

Like all wild animal flesh, whale has a low fat content; it is easily overcooked and quickly acquires a liverish aftertaste.

The Guardian

His observations are filtered through period language, so an attacker is described as "a liverish redhead in a fustian jacket".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I was identified several times, in liverish-green morgue light, by stricken, dignified women.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "liverish" to add a touch of old-fashioned color to descriptions of illness or discoloration, especially when hinting at digestive or liver-related issues. It evokes a specific kind of unwellness.

Common error

Avoid using "liverish" too frequently in contemporary writing, as it can sound archaic or overly literary. Reserve it for situations where its specific meaning and slightly antiquated tone are desired.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "liverish" primarily functions to describe a state of being unwell, often associated with digestive issues, or to characterize a color with a sickly, brownish-yellow hue. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. As the examples show, it's often used in descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Arts

22%

Books

13%

Less common in

Lifestyle

9%

Formal & Business

4%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "liverish" is a valid adjective used to describe a feeling of illness, often related to digestive issues, or a sickly, brownish-yellow color. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable, though somewhat archaic. It is most frequently found in news, arts, and books, carrying a neutral tone suitable for descriptive writing. While not overly common in contemporary use, "liverish" can add a distinctive nuance when used appropriately. Related terms include "unwell", "sickly", and "bilious", offering alternative ways to express similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bilious

Direct synonym, also relating to digestive upset and a sickly appearance.

unwell

General term for not feeling healthy, lacking the specific digestive connotation of "liverish".

dyspeptic

Emphasizes indigestion and a bad mood, similar to the feeling of being "liverish".

queasy

Focuses on the feeling of nausea, a component of being "liverish".

sickly

General term for appearing ill or unhealthy, broader than "liverish".

jaundiced

Focuses on the yellowed skin tone associated with liver problems, a visual aspect of being "liverish".

peakish

Describes someone looking pale and unwell.

out of sorts

Describes a general feeling of being unwell or not one's usual self.

indisposed

A more formal way of saying someone is slightly unwell.

under the weather

Idiomatic expression for feeling slightly ill.

FAQs

How can I use "liverish" in a sentence?

You can use "liverish" to describe a person's appearance when they look unwell, particularly with a pale or yellowish complexion, or to describe a color that is a sickly shade of yellow or brown. For example: "He had a liverish complexion after the long illness" or "The walls were painted a liverish green".

What does "liverish" mean?

The term "liverish" describes someone who appears unwell, often with digestive issues or a sallow complexion. It can also describe a color that resembles the color of liver, typically a dark, brownish-red or yellowish-brown.

What can I say instead of "liverish"?

You can use alternatives like "unwell", "sickly", or "bilious" depending on the specific context. If describing a color, alternatives might include "sallow" or "jaundiced".

Is "liverish" a common word?

While "liverish" is a correct and usable word, it is not as commonly used in modern English as some of its synonyms. It might be considered somewhat archaic or literary, but it can add a distinctive flavor to your writing when used appropriately.