vitriol

noun vit·ri·ol \ ˈvi-trē-əl \

Updated on: 3 Dec 2017

Definition of vitriol

1 : something felt to resemble vitriol especially in caustic quality; especially : virulence of feeling or of speech

2 a : a sulfate of any of various metals (such as copper, iron, or zinc); especially : a glassy hydrate of such a sulfate

b : oil of vitriol

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vitriolic

play \ˌvi-trē-ˈä-lik\ adjective

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Examples of vitriol in a Sentence

His speech was full of political vitriol.
a film critic noted for the vitriol and sometimes outright cruelty of his pronouncements

Recent Examples of vitriol from the Web

Burke is familiar with all brands of internet vitriol.

— robert o'connell, The Atlantic, "Doris Burke’s Expertise Is Finally Paying Off," 31 Oct. 2017
The vitriol from unhappy fan bases is at an all-time high due to social media.

— edgar thompson, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UF coach Jim McElwain pushes to overcome adversity, including death threats," 23 Oct. 2017
There was a time when a trip to the hostile Stade Velodrome, and the seething anti-Parisian vitriol that awaits there, was a daunting trip.

— USA TODAY, "European soccer weekend: What to watch in the main leagues," 19 Oct. 2017
For example, the reliance on acid in batteries accounts for its ubiquity in laboratories and why vitriol (essentially sulfuric acid) became weaponized in both fiction and fact.

— james kakalios, WSJ, "Yesterday’s World of Tomorrow," 29 Sep. 2017
How, then, do so many people watching on TV manage to see only an outrageous display of anti-American vitriol instead?

— jay willis, GQ, "No One Is "Protesting the Flag"," 25 Sep. 2017
Breitbart succeeds with bombast, shamelessness, vitriol, sensationalism, and ugly appeals to ethnic anxieties.

— conor friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "Can Conservative Journalism Survive?," 19 Sep. 2017
Then there’s the common penchant for vitriol, misogyny, philandry, aggressive tanning, and pompous neckwear.

— lorenzo newman, Slate Magazine, "Donald Trump and Silvio Berlusconi have a lot more in common than fake tans and lechery.," 3 Apr. 2017
Internet chat rooms and sports talk radio shows across the state crackled with vitriol for much of the past week.

— jeff duncan, NOLA.com, "Ed Orgeron staying the course after first major hiccup at LSU," 22 Sep. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of vitriol

Middle English, from Anglo-French vitriole, from Medieval Latin vitriolum, alteration of Late Latin vitreolum, neuter of vitreolus glassy, from Latin vitreus vitreous

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First Known Use: 14th century

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