1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of vitriol
Richer blamed Heap for contributing to an atmosphere of distrust and vitriol directed toward the office.
—
Josh Kelety, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
Our city workers have consistently risen above the vitriol and accusations of hostile political leaders to do the jobs that our residents expect.
—Venus Molina, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher, the Dodgers’ general manager and manager, took great pains to protect Robinson, but protecting him from all of the vitriol was an impossibility.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
However, the constant barrage of stories that focus only on wrongdoing within our law enforcement agencies, when left completely unchecked by ones that celebrate the many valuable (and, in some cases, heroic) contributions, serve only to unfairly fan the flames of distrust and vitriol.
—Craig MacLellan, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vitriol
Josh Kelety, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
Our city workers have consistently risen above the vitriol and accusations of hostile political leaders to do the jobs that our residents expect.
—Venus Molina, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher, the Dodgers’ general manager and manager, took great pains to protect Robinson, but protecting him from all of the vitriol was an impossibility.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
However, the constant barrage of stories that focus only on wrongdoing within our law enforcement agencies, when left completely unchecked by ones that celebrate the many valuable (and, in some cases, heroic) contributions, serve only to unfairly fan the flames of distrust and vitriol.
—Craig MacLellan, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vitriol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriol
Noun
-
But Deborah’s bitterness is eclipsing everything.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
The bitterness mellows beautifully and clings to pasta like it was meant to.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These kind of abuses mean that the department isn't going after oil companies that are price gouging.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
-
Under any other president, DOJ’s recent activity would represent an astonishing abuse of power.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
As this sequence plays out, the social fabric further shreds and unravels; trust circles shrink and become ever more homogeneous; and hostility, mean spiritedness, and a general hardening take hold in society.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
The president did send a letter to Congress, just to recap, saying that hostilities have been terminated, given the ceasefire that was put in place on April 7th.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
At one point, the crew shot a scene in which Whalen’s character joins a bar fight, shouting invectives at a hapless extra before pummelling him to the ground.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Riley would have invented invectives.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tons of commenters chimed in on the video, urging Abbie to go get checked for the temporary liver condition, which often occurs in the third trimester, and can slow bile flow, cause severe itching and elevated bile acids.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Nolan suffered from biliary atresia, a condition where bile ducts –– which carry the bile the liver makes into the intestines –– don’t develop properly.—
Camila Gomez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The other guys are on their feet, trying to break it up, someone is calling someone else a loser, there are swings and kicks and insults, men grabbing at other men, trying to restrain them and busting the restraints.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
-
After discussion with my editors, ProPublica decided to note the insults in the story.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Last July, Wolfson found Barahona competent, ruling that Barahona was capable of aiding his defense attorneys and understands the severity of the penalties should he be found guilty.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
After suffering a left hamstring injury earlier this season, Doncic said the latest Grade 2 strain to the same area is unlike any he’s experienced because of its severity.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Vitriol.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriol. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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