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

Yet some of us in the audience, disgusted by the persistence of Nazism and anti-immigrant invective in the present, may well appreciate the force of McQueen’s rhetoric. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024

Squabbling coaches — Tindall had put his fingers to his lips to hush Unai Emery after Duran’s departure, earning invective in response — added to the sense of renaissance. —George Caulkin, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The other sticky reality is that the vast majority of prospective CT buyers don’t pay attention to fringe media invective but make very practical buying decisions rooted in dollars and cents. —Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024

Congolese leaders have a tendency for invective and to blame all their ills on Rwanda. —Jason K. Stearns, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025

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