Synonyms of invective

invective 1 of 2

noun

in-ˈvek-tiv 

as in abuse

harsh insulting language

hurled curses and invective at the driver who heedlessly cut them off in traffic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abuse
• vituperation
• insult
• criticism
• vitriol
• scurrility
• fulmination
• billingsgate
• curse
• obloquy
• epithet
• slur
• blackguardism
• blasphemy
• imprecation
• profanity
• malediction
• polemic
• reprimand
• expletive
• disparagement
• vilification
• tirade
• rebuke
• diatribe
• excoriation
• belittlement
• castigation
• aspersion
• reproof
• chastisement
• execration
• opprobrium
• swearword
• revilement
• harangue
• put-down
• bad-mouthing
• broadside

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praise
• applause
• acclaim
• commendation
• compliments
• congratulations
• endearments
• felicitations
• flattery
• adulation
• soft soap
• blarney
• overpraise

invective

2 of 2

adjective

as in abusive

marked by harsh insulting language

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abusive
• insulting
• outrageous
• vituperative
• vitriolic
• obscene
• offensive
• scurrilous
• opprobrious
• malicious
• contumelious
• truculent
• outraging
• hateful
• nasty
• vituperatory
• dirty
• filthy
• vulgar
• scurrile
• scurril
• offending
• contemptuous
• libelous
• crude
• indecent
• libellous
• scornful
• slanderous
• foul
• coarse
• gross
• defamatory
• foulmouthed
• spiteful
• scandalous
• disdainful
• potty-mouthed
• intemperate
• malevolent
• unbridled
• affronting
• immoderate
• unrestrained
• traducing
• maligning
• vilifying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• moderate
• temperate
• civil
• respectful
• deferential
• polite
• courteous
• gracious
• judicious
• tempered
• laudatory
• discreet
• mannerly
• encomiastic
• praiseful
• laudative

Synonym Chooser

How is the word invective distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of invective are abuse, billingsgate, obloquy, and vituperation. While all these words mean "vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval," invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation.

blistering political invective

When is abuse a more appropriate choice than invective?

The synonyms abuse and invective are sometimes interchangeable, but abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language.

scathing verbal abuse

When could billingsgate be used to replace invective?

The meanings of billingsgate and invective largely overlap; however, billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse.

directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

When is it sensible to use obloquy instead of invective?

Although the words obloquy and invective have much in common, obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace.

subjected to obloquy and derision

When would vituperation be a good substitute for invective?

While in some cases nearly identical to invective, vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse.

a torrent of vituperation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of invective

Noun

Despite the invective and hyperbole the Guild continues to inject into the process, which have included gratuitous and nasty personal attacks, the Daily News stands ready to sit down as often as necessary and as long as necessary. —The Daily News, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025

Douglas McCarthy, the vocalist who hectored anarchic invective with EBM innovators Nitzer Ebb and who joined Depeche Mode keyboardist Alan Wilder’s Recoil side project, died Wednesday at the age of 58. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025

Adjective

Between the time the former Marine Soto was indicted in 2018 and sentenced in 2020, then-President Donald Trump offered up vitriolic invective to Mexican officials. —Sean Campbell, The Conversation, 23 May 2025

So despite invective aimed at Trump and DOGE, limiting executive power is hardly what progressives want. —Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

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