as in abusive
marked by harsh insulting language
braced himself for another vitriolic dressing-down by his perennially displeased father
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 vitriolic
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
As most artists have to deal with vitriolic comments from online haters to some degree, HARDY seems to have found his best way of dealing with it.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2025
So, behind the bitter op-eds and vitriolic letters, what was the problem?
—Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
What was meant to be a moment of silence for Kirk on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening soon gave way to flashes of a vitriolic political divide that would escalate in the aftermath of the 31-year-old’s death.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Reaching consensus on the approach that will work best to meet the short and long-term needs of poor families means everyone must move away from absolutist positions, and discussions concerning the issue must be comprehensive, open and honest rather than accusatory and vitriolic.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 21 Aug. 2025
In the Facebook comments accompanying the announcement, following a scattering of positive reactions, the conversation turned vitriolic.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
As many comics skirt or completely ignore the vitriolic landscape, Maron has no intention of doing anything but lean in further.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
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
As most artists have to deal with vitriolic comments from online haters to some degree, HARDY seems to have found his best way of dealing with it.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2025
So, behind the bitter op-eds and vitriolic letters, what was the problem?
—Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
What was meant to be a moment of silence for Kirk on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening soon gave way to flashes of a vitriolic political divide that would escalate in the aftermath of the 31-year-old’s death.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Reaching consensus on the approach that will work best to meet the short and long-term needs of poor families means everyone must move away from absolutist positions, and discussions concerning the issue must be comprehensive, open and honest rather than accusatory and vitriolic.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 21 Aug. 2025
In the Facebook comments accompanying the announcement, following a scattering of positive reactions, the conversation turned vitriolic.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
As many comics skirt or completely ignore the vitriolic landscape, Maron has no intention of doing anything but lean in further.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vitriolic
Adjective
-
Heartbreaking to hear her talk about needing an escape from her abusive husband.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Among them was a mom of three trying to work up the courage to leave her abusive partner.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
To educate all of them in similar ways is insulting, and silly.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Perkins said the drink bore the insulting message.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Sack Dress was outrageous, really outrageous.—
Sarah Mower,
Vogue,
3 Oct. 2025
-
But Driss has fielded his share of outrageous custom requests.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the years intervening, the poem has remained a lodestar, a contravening presence when, in present day America’s vituperative political landscape, the humanities disciplines and higher education itself has been forced to invoke and defend its own authority.—
Elaine L. Wang
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Even the company’s most vituperative detractors acknowledge its engineering genius and applaud its success in driving down launch expenses (unlike many defense contractors, SpaceX largely eats the cost of its failures).—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
Kirk knew this and was quite successful at playing this game, using social media to spread invective, troll his political opponents, polarize his audience, and grow his movement.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as a married couple whose once-happy relationship dissolves into invective and hatred under the pressures of modern life.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Banners or signs may not be commercial in nature or obscene, or cause any disturbance to other fans.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Workers described incidents of verbal and physical abuse, including reports from women workers who said they had been manhandled and subjected to obscene remarks and threats.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vitriolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vitriolic. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share