vituperate

verb

vi·​tu·​per·​ate vī-ˈtü-pə-ˌrāt 

və-, 

-ˈtyü-

vituperated; vituperating

transitive verb

: to abuse or censure severely or abusively : berate

intransitive verb

: to use harsh condemnatory language

vituperator

vī-ˈtü-pə-ˌrā-tər 

və-, 

-ˈtyü-

noun

Did you know?

There would seem to be as many English words and phrases for reading someone the riot act as there are justifications for doing so, from chew out, bawl out, and ream out, to dress down and tongue-lash. Vituperate, unlike this sample litany, is decidedly formal. This isn't to say that one needs must wear a top hat or pince-nez to vituperate or be vituperated, only that the word vituperate (which traces in part back to the Latin word vitium, meaning "fault") tends to appear in the types of publications that also use constructions like "needs must" and words like pince-nez.

Synonyms of vituperate

• attack
• scold
• slam
• insult
• savage
• criticize

Choose the Right Synonym for vituperate

scold, upbraid, berate, rail, revile, vituperate mean to reproach angrily and abusively.

scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Examples of vituperate in a Sentence

every week the minister would ascend the pulpit and vituperate the parishioners for a litany of vices

Word History

Etymology

Latin vituperatus, past participle of vituperare, from vitium fault + parare to make, prepare — more at pare

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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Kids Definition

vituperate

verb

vi·​tu·​per·​ate vī-ˈt(y)ü-pə-ˌrāt 

və-

vituperated; vituperating

: to criticize harshly : scold