VITRIOL Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

vitriol

noun

ˈvi-trē-əl

Definition of vitriol

as in bitterness

biting sharpness of feeling or expression a film critic noted for the vitriol and sometimes outright cruelty of his pronouncements

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abuse

harsh insulting language the review was more than just unfavorable—it was loaded with vitriol

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of vitriol Any discussion of trans sports has to acknowledge the vitriol and aggression that accompany this debate. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 The past few decades saw similar degrees of vitriol lobbed against the likes of Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. — Chelsey Sanchez, CNN Money, 25 June 2026 There are also established political parties that have jumped on the xenophobia bandwagon, anti-immigrant vitriol is all over TikTok, and fake news is spreading like wildfire on social media. — Kate Bartlett, NPR, 25 June 2026 The weekend contains more than its fair share of chaos, tears, and vitriol, but every character departs after the nuptials feeling confident that the whole affair was, somehow, worth attending. — Bobby Finger june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for vitriol

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriol

Noun

His bitterness over his broken dreams not only hangs over his own life, but threatens to shatter his family.

— Steve Palopoli, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Some taste like sweet custard with fruity flourishes, others carry a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter-like flavor.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitterness

Noun

Michael was arrested two days later, per Denver TV station KUSA, and charged with first-degree murder, use of a weapon in a violent crime, theft of $100 to $500, and abuse of a corpse.

— Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
His team added that Emmanuel Haro's sister was subjected to horrific abuse and watched her brother die as a result of their parents' neglect.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Definition of abuse

Noun

On the obverse of this hostility is a genuine love of life, at least in some of its forms.

— Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Given the extent of the disruption to oil exports from the Middle East since the start of hostilities between Washington and Tehran, most of the hikes announced by OPEC+ since March have had a negligible impact on the physical crude market.

— Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of hostility

Noun

Each was cast as the antagonist in the game that saw England’s exit a World Cup or European Championship, prompting invective from rival supporters and a siege mentality in Manchester.

— Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
These invectives evidently haven’t spooked Son, who once predicted that AI superintelligence would exist by 2035.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 16 July 2026

Definition of invective

Noun

So after all that — all the bile oozing out from those tweets — the thing people were mad about wasn’t even true.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026
Employees told Fillmore during the early 2022 meeting that Shapiro had recently injured a patient’s common bile duct, a small tube that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine, during surgery.

— Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026

Definition of bile

Noun

Several celebrities and their PR teams have denounced Perez for his viscous public insults, from Khloe Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga, a former friend of Perez.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
In recent years, Georgia’s State Election Board has been plagued by infighting, feuds, insults, partisan maneuvering and out-and-out shouting matches.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of insult

Noun

Courtney, an Army veteran who served with the 1st Ranger Battalion, immediately recognized the severity of his injury.

— Tori Mason, CBS News, 31 July 2026
But the Dodgers have downplayed the severity of that ailment and are under the impression that throwing doesn’t hurt it.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of severity

Noun

As these things go, the tweet exposes Hotez to public vituperation on social media and possibly physical harm.

— Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
On March 12, Nickels tweeted a notice of a scientific conference in Washington at which Peter Daszak, the head of a research funding organization who has long been the target of vituperation by lab-leak advocates, would appear on a panel.

— Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024

Definition of vituperation

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vitrines

vitriol

vitriolic

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“Vitriol.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriol. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of vitriol

noun

Example Sentences

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