as in abusive
marked by harsh insulting language
braced himself for another vitriolic dressing-down by his perennially displeased father
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Recent Examples of vitriolic
Advertisement Indeed, few of today’s comments about Washington and slavery are more vitriolic than the criticisms levied by his nineteenth-century critics.
—
John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump posted about the tragic news on Monday morning, upsetting many with his vitriolic reaction to Rob's death, in particular.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The travel advisory follows official protest from both sides related to the incident – with each country summoning the other’s ambassador – and a surge of vitriolic backlash against Takaichi from within China, where nationalist, anti-Japanese sentiment has been on the rise in recent years.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
At his own campaign closing event on Wednesday, a baying crowd was whipped up by Kaiser's vitriolic anti-communism and attacks on progressive values.
—NPR, 14 Nov. 2025
The violence in Chicago against law enforcement is unprecedented—These attacks are the consequence of vitriolic smears from sanctuary politicians and the media.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Whether ecstatic or vitriolic, the attention the book garnered was unprecedented.
—Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
One of the most viral and vitriolic critiques came from Crissle West, co-host of the popular pop-culture podcast The Read.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
But the vitriolic attacks and reemerging calls to boycott the Super Bowl come as no surprise.
—Raquel Reichard, Refinery29, 30 Sep. 2025
John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump posted about the tragic news on Monday morning, upsetting many with his vitriolic reaction to Rob's death, in particular.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The travel advisory follows official protest from both sides related to the incident – with each country summoning the other’s ambassador – and a surge of vitriolic backlash against Takaichi from within China, where nationalist, anti-Japanese sentiment has been on the rise in recent years.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
At his own campaign closing event on Wednesday, a baying crowd was whipped up by Kaiser's vitriolic anti-communism and attacks on progressive values.
—NPR, 14 Nov. 2025
The violence in Chicago against law enforcement is unprecedented—These attacks are the consequence of vitriolic smears from sanctuary politicians and the media.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Whether ecstatic or vitriolic, the attention the book garnered was unprecedented.
—Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
One of the most viral and vitriolic critiques came from Crissle West, co-host of the popular pop-culture podcast The Read.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
But the vitriolic attacks and reemerging calls to boycott the Super Bowl come as no surprise.
—Raquel Reichard, Refinery29, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriolic
Adjective
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The federal agency was tasked with creating and enforcing rules to protect consumers from abusive practices across a range of financial institutions.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
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Back home, their physically abusive father stalks the shadowy hallways.—
Blake Simons,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Many researchers cite those exact words as insulting or wrong when asked about their own terminations.—
STAT Staff,
STAT,
29 Dec. 2025
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With two toddlers and a 10-hour workday for her husband, the advice was more insulting than helpful.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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One year, countless outrageous ensembles and quippy one-liners later, viewers still can’t get enough of her.—
Colleen Kratofil,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
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The Lakers broke the NBA with that trade a year ago; a repeat event would be pretty outrageous, even for this franchise.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Bal and Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, while almost certainly proceeding without Israeli institutional support, given the vituperative reactions his recent films have provoked — and, by his own admission, have been designed to provoke.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
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The initiative text is replete with vituperative language attacking personal injury lawyers as a class.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For twenty hours a day, from about 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., Loomer releases torrents of accusations and invective, an infinite scroll of alleged misdeeds and nefarious connections.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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The comments can be laced with insult, character attack and invective.—
Carl F. Weems,
The Conversation,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Some made obscene gestures, and one held up a paper cursing the president.—
Josh Boak,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
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Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vitriolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriolic. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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