VITUPERATION Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'vituperation' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of vituperation are abuse , billingsgate , invective , and obloquy . While all these words mean "vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval," vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse. // a torrent of vituperation

Q: When is it sensible to use 'abuse' instead of 'vituperation'?

The meanings of abuse and vituperation largely overlap; however, abuse , the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language. // scathing verbal abuse

Q: When is 'billingsgate' a more appropriate choice than 'vituperation'?

While in some cases nearly identical to vituperation , billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse. // directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

Q: In what contexts can 'invective' take the place of 'vituperation'?

In some situations, the words invective and vituperation are roughly equivalent. However, invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation. // blistering political invective

Q: When could 'obloquy' be used to replace 'vituperation'?

The words obloquy and vituperation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace. // subjected to obloquy and derision

vituperation

noun

(ˌ)vī-ˌtü-pə-ˈrā-shən

Definition of vituperation next

as in abuse

harsh insulting language sick of the vituperation coming from ungrateful visitors, the put-upon webmaster took down the site's free webcam, which had afforded views of the town's picturesque harbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vituperation distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of vituperation are abuse, billingsgate, invective, and obloquy. While all these words mean "vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval," vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse.

a torrent of vituperation

When is it sensible to use abuse instead of vituperation?

The meanings of abuse and vituperation largely overlap; however, abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language.

scathing verbal abuse

When is billingsgate a more appropriate choice than vituperation?

While in some cases nearly identical to vituperation, billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse.

directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

In what contexts can invective take the place of vituperation?

In some situations, the words invective and vituperation are roughly equivalent. However, invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation.

blistering political invective

When could obloquy be used to replace vituperation?

The words obloquy and vituperation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace.

subjected to obloquy and derision

Examples of vituperation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As these things go, the tweet exposes Hotez to public vituperation on social media and possibly physical harm. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024 On March 12, Nickels tweeted a notice of a scientific conference in Washington at which Peter Daszak, the head of a research funding organization who has long been the target of vituperation by lab-leak advocates, would appear on a panel. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 The vituperation has spilled over into the Wellington protests. —

Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Feb. 2022 What had whipped these imperious creative artists into a frenzy of dismissive vituperation was, in fact, something that most people have strong ideas about, nobody can define, and virtually everyone (besides that trio) seems to want: good taste. —

Daniel Mendelsohn, Town & Country, 20 Sep. 2021 Metaphorically likening Charlottesville to a rapist is a baseless vituperation against Charlottesville’s character, even more outlandish when the mayor herself is the vituperator. —

George Messenger, National Review, 30 Mar. 2021 Unflinchingly conservative, wildly partisan, bombastically self-promoting and larger than life, Limbaugh galvanized listeners for more than 30 years with his talent for vituperation and sarcasm. —

Matt Sedensky, Star Tribune, 17 Feb. 2021 Unflinchingly conservative, wildly partisan, bombastically self-promoting, and larger than life, Mr. Limbaugh galvanized listeners for more than 30 years with his talent for vituperation and sarcasm. —

Matt Sedensky, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Feb. 2021 Americans rejected the radical vituperation proselytized on the fringes and chose the optimistic tradition of social justice associated with Pope John XXIII. —

Rahm Emanuel, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vituperation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.