as in abuse
harsh insulting language
hurled curses and invective at the driver who heedlessly cut them off in traffic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of invective
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025
Congress often seems incapable of doing anything other than hurl petty invectives across the aisle.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Kerry Howley, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
Congolese leaders have a tendency for invective and to blame all their ills on Rwanda.
—Jason K. Stearns, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invective
Noun
That decision, highly unusual in Japan, earned her some support from politicians, but a tide of abuse and invective on social media from people dismissing her claims.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025
Congress often seems incapable of doing anything other than hurl petty invectives across the aisle.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Photo: YouTube Cummings is known as a roast comic, an artist of invective.
—Kerry Howley, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
Congolese leaders have a tendency for invective and to blame all their ills on Rwanda.
—Jason K. Stearns, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invective
Noun
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Jail records show Walker also has a pending case on suspicion of elder abuse and assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury.—
Ethan Wolin,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2025
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Arsenal forward Russo was one of just many England players who spoke about the impact social media abuse can have on their well-being.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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But like any powerful tool, healing language can also be misused, especially by those with manipulative or abusive tendencies.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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The slashing of the benefits of medical care, food and other assistance to low-income families in this bill goes so far beyond even the most exaggerated claim of fraud, waste and abuse as to be cynically and sadistically abusive.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
Noun
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The politicization of the COVID response has only worsened this trend, likely resulting in part from Trump’s vituperation.—
Matt Motta,
Scientific American,
29 Oct. 2024
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Flash forward 92-plus years to Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a bleak, lurid festival of racist hate and profane vituperation so vile that even fellow Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to Trump’s character for years, are distancing themselves from the event.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Trump’s orders are insulting to state and local officials, but especially to the Marines.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
17 June 2025
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To make matters worse for the 46-year-old politician, the Toronto superstar shared his insulting message on his Instagram story.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
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The president and the governor are having a momentous fight about constitutional rights in the courts, and flaming each other with insults and photoshopped memes on Truth Social and X. The ICE raids have thrown some Angelenos into a state of fear and virtual hiding.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
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The two men had a very public falling out in early June, which unfolded in a series of insults and allegations on social media.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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The concept is both simple and outrageous — an interview done while guests eat a series of chicken wings of increasing spice levels, often with disorienting discomfort — and the show has become a popular sensation and an essential stop on the modern celebrity promotional tour.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Each episode explores a pivotal or outrageous moment in marijuana history—from ancient tokes to cultural revolutions—blending humor with surprisingly rich education.—
Matt Rozo,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
Noun
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When the new Tesla Model 3 came out at the end of 2023 (which the company claims isn’t called Highland despite everyone else calling it that), its lack of an indicator stalk (like the Model S Plaid) garnered criticism.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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The decision comes after months of criticism for punishing a woman fencer who refused to fence a trans opponent, which included scrutiny from federal lawmakers at a congressional hearing in early May.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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On Wednesday, the President faced a barrage of ominous developments that might have fazed another leader—a worrisome jobs report, losses in federal court related to four of his signature policies, an increasingly vituperative public breakup with Elon Musk.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
5 June 2025
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Even before Trump took office, many scientists were reluctant to engage with the topic, for fear of being drawn into what has been a very public and vituperative debate.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Invective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invective. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
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