invective

adjective in·vec·tive \ in-ˈvek-tiv \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of invective

: of, relating to, or characterized by insult or abuse

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invectively

adverb

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invectiveness

noun

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Examples of invective in a Sentence

an overbearing, bullying boss who is fond of sending invective e-mails to long-suffering assistants

Recent Examples of invective from the Web

Hytner tends to stay away from the self-revealing (except for his run-in with Harold Pinter, which is so invective-strewn it can’t be reproduced here without making the paragraph look like a night sky of asterisks).

— peter lewis, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Balancing Acts' author Nicholas Hytner looks back at a successful career at London’s National Theatre," 8 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'invective.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of invective

Middle English invectif, from Middle French, from Latin invectivus, from invectus, past participle of invehere

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First Known Use: 15th century

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invective Synonyms

Synonyms

abusive, opprobrious, scurrilous, truculent, vitriolic, vituperative, vituperatory;

Near Antonyms

moderate, temperate;

deferential, respectful;

civil, courteous, gracious, mannerly, polite;

discreet, judicious, tempered;

laudatory, praiseful;

coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, foulmouthed, gross, indecent, nasty, obscene, potty-mouthed, vulgar;

contemptuous, disdainful, scornful;

defamatory, libelous (or libellous), scandalous, slanderous;

maligning, traducing, vilifying;

hateful, malevolent, malicious, spiteful;

immoderate, intemperate, unbridled, unrestrained;

invective

noun

Definition of invective

1 : an abusive expression or speech

2 : insulting or abusive language : vituperation

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Examples of invective in a Sentence

a barrage of racist invective
hurled curses and invective at the driver who heedlessly cut them off in traffic

Recent Examples of invective from the Web

Trump unleashed an extraordinary string of invective against the former FBI director on Twitter.

— alex wigglesworth, latimes.com, "From 'nut job' to 'slimeball': A timeline of Trump's insults aimed at Comey," 16 Apr. 2018
The award of the late spot kick sparked long-time Juve goalkeeper and club talisman Gianluigi Buffon to unleash a torrent of invective against referee Michael Oliver, who duly showed the Italian a red.

— euan mckirdy, CNN, "Juventus comes up short in bid to overturn Real advantage," 12 Apr. 2018
Congress, in both parties, is increasingly the province of showboats who compensate for their many deficiencies through loud talk, audacious claims and, always, partisan invective.

— chris stirewalt, Fox News, "Our awful Congress," 11 Apr. 2018
Standing nearby was an irate woman, who began hurling invectives at Monroe.

— john sharp, AL.com, "From Mobile to Memphis, Sputnik Monroe was a body-slamming civil rights pioneer," 25 Mar. 2018
The nastiness, the level of disharmony that was going on, the personal invective.

— recode staff, Recode, "Full transcript: Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci on Recode Decode," 22 Mar. 2018
In the videos, the women, with three children in tow, can be heard unleashing a steady stream of invective against Muslims.

— mallory simon, CNN, "Moms took children to a mosque and live-streamed their hate-filled tirade," 16 Mar. 2018
Asked whether Russia had free speech, Rybin responded by referring to the raucous talk shows on state television, in which politicians and journalists hurl invective at one another but hardly ever criticize Putin.

— anton troianovski, Washington Post, "Young Russians are Vladimir Putin’s biggest fans," 9 Mar. 2018
Conventional wisdom assures that Trump’s off-the-cuff invectives only fuel his critics and overshadow his achievements.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "A Year of Achievement," 7 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of invective

1523

invective Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of invective

abuse, vituperation, invective, obloquy, billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval. abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language.