vitriol

noun vit·ri·ol \ ˈvi-trē-əl \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

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

He was booed by a section of the fans during a loss to Southampton in the FA Cup last season and was also handed his share of the vitriol whilst the club played Burnley following his nightclub sighting.

— SI.com, "Gareth Barry Returns to West Brom After Exercising His Option of a 1-Year Extension," 26 June 2018
Soon, the Facebook pages and Instagram accounts of the Old Saybrook Red Hen were flooded with vitriol.

— matthew ormseth, courant.com, "Threats, Bad Reviews, Fake Bookings For Old Saybrook Restaurant After Trump Spokeswoman Was Refused Service At Virginia Eatery With Same Name," 24 June 2018
But here’s another stunner for fans accustomed to vitriol: Moorhead and Luke seem to be getting off to a nice acquaintance.

— george schroeder, USA TODAY, "Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead not getting caught up in Mississippi rivalry," 8 June 2018
We Cosby survivors have been sometimes assaulted physically and verbally by strangers, and by die-hard Cosby fans and rape apologists who send me and the other survivors messages that are full of vitriol.

— stacey leasca, Glamour, "Cosby Survivor Lili Bernard: ‘I’m Not Afraid Anymore’," 28 Apr. 2018
That Miller suffered a probable career-ending left knee dislocation on the play, and the fact the initial touchdown ruling gave the Bears the lead in the third quarter, only added to the vitriol locally.

— rich campbell, chicagotribune.com, "NFL to consider restoring 'football move' requirement for catch," 21 Mar. 2018
All social networks contain vitriol and bigotry, but not all social networks are equally associated with these things in the public imagination.

— jane mayer, The New Yorker, "Reddit and the Struggle to Detoxify the Internet," 12 Mar. 2018
Inertia in the face of this kind of vitriol reinforces the kind of schooling that fostered many presidents’ bigoted views, including Trump’s.

— valerie strauss, Washington Post, "How civics teachers can talk to students about Trump’s racist comments," 16 Jan. 2018
Your opinion plus an address — email or otherwise — is an open invitation for vitriol.

— heidi stevens, chicagotribune.com, "In a time of hate, your civility lectures aren't helping anyone," 28 June 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2a

See Words from the same year