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
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
In the wake of the assassination of prominent conservative figure Charlie Kirk, the rhetoric wars have taken to new levels of vitriol, with many on the right blaming the left writ large for such political violence, and vice versa.
—
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025
The effect is jaw-dropping, paying respect and homage to the Owens family and the children at the center of Lorincz's vitriol.
—Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Much of the vitriol centers on the fact that Sandu is a woman.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
And as if a constant stream of social media vitriol wasn’t enough of an insult to the venerable lawns, they are subjected to constant meteorological insults as well.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vitriol
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025
The effect is jaw-dropping, paying respect and homage to the Owens family and the children at the center of Lorincz's vitriol.
—Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
Much of the vitriol centers on the fact that Sandu is a woman.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
And as if a constant stream of social media vitriol wasn’t enough of an insult to the venerable lawns, they are subjected to constant meteorological insults as well.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vitriol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriol
Noun
-
Chocolate’s distinctive taste begins with cocoa beans, harvested from trees and fermented right on the cocoa farm to develop their aroma and reduce bitterness.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Oct. 2025
-
For the signature bitterness, instead of the classic Campari, Taylor used the deeper Averna—where Campari’s orange bitterness is bright and juicy, Averna’s orange bitterness is a lower hum, like a flourless chocolate cake.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
What’s more, the administration has gutted the office that investigates allegations of abuse by agents.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
-
In 2023, Alex was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, amid revelations of financial crimes, drug abuse and corruption.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Naroditsky’s untimely death has shined a spotlight on the dark underbelly of the game that fellow pros say brought undue hostility upon the chess star in his final months.—
Corey Williams,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Presidents have wide latitude to deploy the Guard, and protection of federal property is an obvious justification in this season of violent hostility to ICE.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Rory McIlroy was the lightning rod for the invective, and so was his wife.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
-
In the months before the $5 million match, Ali turned up the invective, calling Frazier dumb, mocking his dark skin, and painting him as a lackey for his white handlers.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
All brittleness and bile in the hands of Diego Luna, Valentín’s quiet righteousness rubs up against his cellmate’s grandiosity in all the wrong ways — at first.—
Blythe Marks,
Them.,
17 Oct. 2025
-
That means good bile flow (supported by healthy fats, hydration and fiber) and regular bowel movements so waste doesn’t get reabsorbed.—
Lauren Mallers,
Sacbee.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Carter was sitting in her chair, listening to a lesson, when Octavius Johnson, a classmate who had a crush on her, started to fire off insults.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Politico counted 251 instances of derogatory insults in the group chat, interspersed with logistical conversations about social media strategies and collecting votes.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The regulator emphasized the severity of the breach, noting that trust is fundamental to the relationship between broadcasters and their audiences, particularly for public service broadcasters like the BBC.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Despite the apparent severity of the injury, Rush is still scheduled to compete in a match in Mexico tonight, October 16.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
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
-
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 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share